We have gifted the town of Petrovac three statues of the dusky grouper, a fish known for its curiosity, beauty, and vulnerability. These statues now adorn the seaside promenade, drawing attention to one of the most fascinating — and endangered — species of the Adriatic Sea. They are placed in the heart of the newly declared Katič Marine Protected Area (MPA), where the dusky grouper serves as a symbol of the reserve and a reflection of the health of our underwater world.
Two small statues, each 45 cm long and made of stone, were gifted to the well-known Petrovac restaurants Tramontana and S&M. The size of the statues symbolically represents — and visually reminds us — that in Montenegro, catching groupers smaller than 45 cm is prohibited by law. This regulation, introduced in many countries where the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) lives, is one of the tools humans use to support the slow recovery of this species.
Due to its complex and highly specific life cycle, the dusky grouper naturally regenerates at a very slow pace — a process made even more difficult by overfishing. While large groupers were once a common catch for local fishers, today most of what’s caught are juveniles, making population recovery even harder.
To highlight the grandeur of adult groupers — which can reach 1.5 meters in length and live up to 50 years — a large metal statue was also made and installed on the promenade between the Red Commune Cultural Center, the Katič MPA Visitor Center, and the Adriatic Sea. Created from sheet metal and wire, the sculpture visually evokes the image of a weary, aging grouper — threatened daily by the spears of illegal hunters.
These beautiful statues were crafted by Nikola Mirić from Knap Studio. Their creation and installation were part of the project “Supporting the Local Community in the Protection and Promotion of the Proposed Katič Marine Protected Area,” funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).
