A Cuban identified as Bárbaro Mora Gómez posted a video on Facebook showing a huge grouper caught through spearfishing in Cienfuegos.
In the 28-second clip, the man exclaims to the camera: “Look at this, gentlemen, they say this is called guasa. There’s food here for six months. How did the encounter with that animal underwater happen?” he asks the fisherman.
The recording, published on their Facebook profile, quickly went viral among the Cuban community on social media.
The goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), also known as the Atlantic goliath grouper, is one of the largest bony fish in the ocean. It can reach nearly three meters in length and weigh over 400 kg, with recorded weights of up to 455 kg. It inhabits reefs, mangroves, and caves in coastal areas of the western Atlantic, from Florida to Brazil, including the Caribbean.
However, in several countries in the region and in Cuba, the capture of this species has been prohibited since 2018 under Resolution No. 178/18 from the Ministry of Food Industry, which classifies it as an endangered species and mandates that any specimens caught incidentally be returned to the sea.
The capture and public display illustrate the tension that exists on the Island between extreme food needs and the protection of endangered species.
The Jagua Bay, historically known as Cienfuegos Bay, has a long fishing tradition and has recently been the site of tragedies related to this practice.
The area has also reported other cases of illegal fishing of protected species. In September 2024, Cuban authorities seized 60 kg of turtle meat from a deep-sea diver in Cienfuegos, highlighting a pattern of illegal capture of protected species in the region.
In February 2024, the death of a spearfisher in the Isle of Youth shocked the community. Unconfirmed reports suggested that a goliath grouper may have been involved in the incident.
The food crisis that has plagued Cuba for years is driving many citizens to turn to informal fishing as a survival strategy. In the comments, some people warn that "this fish can sometimes cause ciguatera."
The video, tagged with the hashtags #pescasubmarina, #Cienfuegos, and #bahiadejagua, reflects how food desperation drives Cubans to ignore environmental prohibitions that, under other circumstances, would be non-negotiable.
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