Top Snowy Grouper Fishing Countries

The snowy grouper (Hyporthodus niveatus) is a deep-water species prized for its firm, white flesh and is found primarily in the western Atlantic Ocean, from the southeastern United States down to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This species inhabits rocky bottoms and ledges at depths of 100 to 500 meters, making it a target for both commercial and recreational fisheries. The United States, particularly the southeastern states like Florida and the Gulf Coast, is one of the top snowy grouper fishing countries, with regulated commercial and recreational harvests managed by quotas to prevent overfishing. Brazil also has a significant snowy grouper fishery, especially in the southern and southeastern regions, where the species is known locally as "garoupa." Other notable countries with smaller-scale fisheries include Venezuela and several Caribbean nations. Due to its popularity and vulnerability to overfishing, snowy grouper stocks are closely monitored, and catch limits are enforced in major fishing nations to ensure the sustainability of this valuable deep-water species.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.