Parrotfish

Overview

Parrotfish are a group of colorful, coral-eating tropical fish in the fish family Scaridae. There are over 80 different species in the parrotfish family with the most common Caribbean species including the Bucktooth Parrotfish, Queen Parrotfish, Yellowtail Parrotfish, and Stoplight Parrotfish [18]. Parrotfish are named after their hard beaks which resemble that of a parrot, however, the “beak” of the parrotfish is made up of many small teeth packed very close together that allow it to scrape off algae and coral [13].

Figure 1: Brian Naess

Habitat

Parrotfish can commonly be found in shallow waters due to the warm temperatures and low turbidity that allow for abundant coral in these regions. They mostly live in coral reefs in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans although they can also live near coastlines or in seagrass beds.

Diet

Most parrotfish are primarily herbivores, with the largest portion of their diet coming from algae. Less than 50% of their diet also consists of coral which is released as white coral sand after digestion. Their beak is extremely powerful and allows them to shave off hard coral at a rate of 20 bites per minute. Due to this process, parrotfish have been found to make up 200 pounds of this sand a year [11].

Reproduction

Parrotfish will switch sexes from the dull female to the colorful male as they mature depending on what is required for reproduction in the group. After females change to males, they will sometimes challenge other males to lead the group in a process known as “protogynous hermaphroditism”. After a fish assumes the terminal phase as a male they will begin their reproduction process [11]. Parrotfish are pelagic spawners so they will release their sperm and eggs directly into the water column to be fertilized. After the eggs are fertilized they become a part of the plankton in the ecosystem and will float around until they end up settling in rocks or coral. From there, they will grow until they eventually hatch.

Figure 2: Jennifer Adler

Protection

At night they utilize mucous from their mouths and wrap it around their body to mask their scent from predators like eels and sharks while they sleep burrowed in the sand or tucked away in crevices [11].

Figure3: GBRMPA Photographer N Collins

Why are Parrotfish Important?

Algae

Parrotfish primarily eat algae by scraping it off of rocks and coral. This reduces the algae in the ecosystem and keeps the algae levels at the appropriate levels. Algae produce a significant amount of nutrients in the water. This can create an imbalance of nutrients which can upset ecosystems. Therefore, parrotfish are incredibly important as they limit the algae levels in ecosystems to prevent a hazardous increase of algae and nutrients [13]. Figure 4: Parrotfish

Additionally, coral polyps need hard surfaces to land and begin growing coral. As algae cover increases, the area for coral to grow decreases. Therefore, parrotfish scraping off algae provides more opportunities for coral cover to expand [13].

However, not all parrotfish eat the same amount of algae. Some species, such as the redband parrotfish, eat a significant amount of algae, while other species like the blue parrotfish barely eat any. This is significant to conservation efforts because some efforts protect all parrotfish despite the differences in their contributions to ecosystems [2].

Beaks, Bioerosion, and Sand

Parrotfish are named for their beak-like mouths. These “beaks” are actually over 1,000 teeth in 15 rows, cemented together. The rows are continuously growing so that new teeth replace worn-out teeth. Parrotfish beaks are the “stiffest, among the hardest, most resistant to fracture and to abrasion ever measured” [21]. This is due to the fluorapatite mineral (made from fluorine, phosphorus, calcium, and oxygen) which creates the incredibly strong crystal structure of the teeth. This is vital for parrotfishes because they bite chunks of coral while grazing on algae [21]. This causes a lot of bioerosion as parrotfish can take 20 bites of coral a minute [11] and may take up to 150 bites in a single area before moving on [20]. Parrotfish also have teeth in their throats to help break down the coral they eat [21]. They then break down the calcium carbonate skeletons of coral into fine sand. Due to the amount of coral parrotfish eat, parrotfish produce about 1 ton of sand per acre of coral each year [19]. Some estimates say that about 85% of the sand on some tropical beaches is from parrotfish [9].

Figure5: Albright-Mundy

Once again, not all species of parrotfish have the same effects. Larger species (like the stoplight parrotfish or queen parrotfish) are known to take larger chunks of coral. Larger fish are, however, more likely to be fished. Therefore, conservation efforts that protect all parrotfish will more likely shift the population numbers of larger parrotfish, which can result in greater amounts of bioerosion [2]. However, despite eating and breaking down coral, scientists claim that corals are not significantly harmed by parrotfish, and are still benefitted greatly by the algae-reducing effects [13].

Why are Parrotfish Disappearing?

All parrotfish species have been experiencing a decline in population for a variety of reasons. Some of the main causes of this disappearance include overfishing, pollution, and global warming. Overfishing locally and globally has diminished the amount of parrotfish through direct catch as well as bycatch. Global warming and microplastics have had drastic effects on coral health and therefore parrotfish health.

Caribbean- Specific Issues with Overfishing

In the Caribbean specifically, it has been extremely difficult to combat issues of overfishing. Because the Caribbean consists of many nations near one another it is hard to create regulations that exist outside of exclusive economic zones and cooperate. Moreover, there is a lot of education for fisheries and fishermen in many smaller islands [4]. Figure 6: Parrotfish

Plastic Pollution

As plastic pollution worsens, ecosystems are simultaneously affected. Microplastics (link to microplastic section), plastic particles that are smaller than 5 mm, have been known to be ingested by organisms, especially corals. Corals have been found to have a 79-98% microplastic retention rate, meaning 79-98% of microplastics in close enough proximity to corals through currents and other processes are being taken in and built into coral reef structures. [8] This is extremely detrimental to the organisms that live in coral reefs, but most importantly detrimental to organisms that feed directly off of coral reefs, such as parrotfish. Because parrotfish receive the majority of their nutrition and sustenance from eating algae directly off of corals, they are more prone to microplastic exposure than other organisms and end up ingesting the microplastics that are stored in these corals. In a recent study of coral fishes in the South China Sea it was found that there was a 29.3% occurrence rate of microplastics in coral fish bodies. [9] This was far greater than previously anticipated. While this study was done in the South China Sea, the same processes and issues of microplastic pollutants occur on a global scale and have far-reaching effects on all coral reefs and parrotfish.

Global Warming

Parrotfish are essential for coral reef health due to their ability to eat the algae off of corals. Coral bleaching events, however, increase algae amounts. Logically speaking, this increase in resources should increase the parrotfish population, but the opposite has been occurring. While parrotfish are generally heat resistant or as heat resistant as other similar herbivore fish, they are unique in that they only eat algae and are particular about contaminants that sometimes exist in it. Unfortunately, coral bleaching events increase algae but also tend to increase these contaminants. As a result, parrotfish exist in an algal community that they can no longer feed on, diminishing their communities [4].

Figure 7: Dead coral covered in algae, Jennifer Adler

Conservation Efforts

While parrotfish are often seen as essential reef species, not all conservation strategies work. Some efforts oversimplify the ecological roles of different parrotfish species, treating them all the same when they’re not. Based on what’s working around the world, targeted approaches that consider both species-specific roles and what local communities need prove most effective. Not all parrotfish are reef saviors and conservation efforts need to reflect that reality.

Positive Feedback Loops in Community-Based Conservation

In developing countries where enforcement capacity is limited, community-based conservation has emerged as the most promising strategy [6]. Brazil’s efforts to protect the endangered greenbeak parrotfish (Scarus trispinosus) show how local engagement, adaptive zoning, and education can create a cycle of success [8]. These social-ecological dynamics prove especially important in areas where top-down regulation doesn’t work [15].

The results speak for themselves. When people see their reefs getting healthier and fish populations recovering, they become the strongest advocates for conservation (Leite et al.). This creates a positive cycle: better reefs lead to more community support, leading to better protection and creating even healthier reefs. This approach works because it makes conservation a shared goal rather than something forced on communities. Unlike top-down regulations that often face resistance, this strategy builds genuine local investment in protecting parrotfish [6].

Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management

The Pew Charitable Trusts has pushed for an ecosystem-based approach to managing parrotfish populations [23]. Instead of focusing solely on fish stock numbers, this strategy emphasizes what parrotfish do: graze on algae. When you overfish these herbivores, algae can take over, smother coral, and destroy reef resilience [17].

The solution? Flip the approach. Prioritize conservation first through no-take zones and harvest limits, then allow sustainable use [23]. Peter Mumby’s 2014 study proposes a habitat-stratified management strategy, identifying two key reef zones in the Caribbean.

This approach allows for sustainable use without compromising ecological function, while often increasing catch efficiency in permitted areas. The key point is that protecting parrotfish isn’t just about saving a species—it’s about maintaining entire reef ecosystems [16]. iii. Country-Specific Approaches

Jamaica

Many Caribbean countries have implemented conservation regulations in an effort to protect parrotfish. Jamaica has had ongoing efforts to balance parrotfish conversation and livelihoods of the fisheries, stating that an outright ban on parrotfish consumption would hurt all fishing operations; as parrot fish are caught with other reef fish in fish traps, stopping these practices would cause a halt on all reef fish fishing [9]. While parrotfish are not nationally protected, there is a growing advocacy for stricter regulations that emphasize ecosystem management and community education. However, there are many challenges regarding the enforcement of these practices, economic and social pressures from these changes, and Jamaica’s cultural reliance on reef fishing. Figure 8: Fisheries Division. Managing Parrotfish and Jamaica’s Reef Fisheries

Antigua and Barbuda

In 2014, Antigua and Barbuda implemented one of the Caribbean’s most ambitious ocean management plans [7]. The Blue Halo Initiative zoned coastal waters, created five marine sanctuaries protecting 33% of coastal waters, and banned harvesting parrotfish and sea urchins. The initiative also established no net zones, anchoring zones, and lagoon zones all totaling about thirteen zones [7]. What made this work wasn’t just the science—it was extensive community consultation combined with solid research. While enforcement remains challenging, it’s become a model for creating policy with both scientific backing and real community support [7].

Figure 10: Gosnell, McClintock, and Lee 22 c. Brazil

Brazil’s MPA Costa dos Corais is the country’s largest coastal marine protected area, designed to protect species like Scarus trispinosus and Sparisoma amplum [3]. Research shows that systematically designed no-take zones work far better than randomly placed ones (Bender et al.). However, monitoring is still limited, and there’s a need to better integrate local knowledge into management decisions [3].

While some might argue that species-specific conservation approaches are too complicated, the evidence clearly shows that blanket protections don’t work [16]. Different parrotfish species contribute different amounts to reef health, and successful conservation programs around the world have proven that targeted, community-integrated approaches beat one-size-fits-all policies every time [6].

Works Cited

1. Albright-Mundy, Christina. “The Remarkable Parrotfish • Scuba Diver Life.” Scuba Diver Life, 3 Aug. 2020, scubadiverlife.com/the-remarkable-parrotfish/.
2. Alvarez-Filip, Lorenzo, and Ana Lilia Molina Hernández. “Parrotfish Support Healthy Coral Reefs, but They’re Not a Cure-All, and Sometimes Cause Harm.” The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025, theconversation.com/parrotfish-support-healthy-coral-reefs-but-theyre-not-a-cure-all-and-sometimes-cause-harm-242270.
3. Bender, Marcelo G., et al. “Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Brazil for the Conservation of Endemic and Endangered Parrotfishes.” Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 8, 2021, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.604108/full.
4. Bird, Jonathan. “Parrotfish Poop! | JONATHAN BIRD’S BLUE WORLD Extra.” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDr4Gs_GxsA.
5. Bland, Alastair . “Can’t Stand the Heat (Wave): Coral-Protecting Fish in Decline.” Oceans, 18 Aug. 2018, deeply.thenewhumanitarian.org/oceans/articles/2018/08/08/cant-stand-the-heat-wave-coral-protecting-fish-in-decline.
6. Cinner, Joshua E., et al. “The Role of Community-Based Management in Fisheries and Coral Reef Conservation.” PLOS ONE, vol. 17, no. 7, 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9293920/.
7. Environmental Law Institute. “Antigua and Barbuda Sign Landmark Ocean Management Regulations.” Environmental Law Institute, 2014, https://www.eli.org/news/antigua-and-barbuda-sign-landmark-ocean-management-regulation.
8. Ferreira, Carlos E. L., et al. “Challenges and Pathways for Parrotfish Conservation in Developing Countries: Lessons from the Endemic and Endangered Greenbeak Parrotfish Scarus trispinosus.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 13, 2025.
9. Fisheries Division. “Managing Parrotfish and Jamaica’s Reef Fisheries: Balancing Conservation and Livelihoods.” Government of Jamaica, https://www.fisheries.gov.jm/managing-parrotfish-and-jamaicas-reef-fisheries-balancing-conservation-and-livelihoods/.
10. Gosnell, J. Stephen, Will McClintock, and Minkyung Lee. Building Marine Reserve Networks to Fit Multiple Needs: An Introduction to Marine Spatial Planning Using SeaSketch. Lessons in Conservation, vol. 10, no. 1, 2020, pp. 12–28. American Museum of Natural History, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. https://www.amnh.org/content/download/304773/4829785/file/building-marine-reserve-networks-to-fit-multiple-needs-an-introduction-to-marine-spatial-planning-using-seasketch.pdf
11. Great Barrier Reef Foundation. “Five Fascinating Facts about Parrotfish.” Great Barrier Reef Foundation, 28 Apr. 2021, www.barrierreef.org/news/news/five-fascinating-facts-about-parrotfish#:~:text=Using%20their%20powerful%20beaks%2C%20parrotfish,of%20a%20coral%27s%20stony%20skeleton.
12. Freija Mendrik, et al. “Microplastic Trapping Efficiency and Hydrodynamics in Model Coral Reefs: A Physical Experimental Investigation.” Environmental Pollution, vol. 342, no. 342, 1 Feb. 2024, pp. 123094–123094, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123094.
13. Huang, Lei, et al. “Microplastic Contamination in Coral Reef Fishes and Its Potential Risks in the Remote Xisha Areas of the South China Sea.” Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 186, no. 186, 1 Jan. 2023, p. 114399, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X22010815, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114399.
14. Jones, Benji. “This Awkward Fish Works Harder than You.” Vox, 8 Oct. 2024, www.vox.com/down-to-earth/375178/parrotfish-algae-coral-reef-climate-change.
15. Knowles, Sarah, et al. “Examining the Development of a Parrotfish Fishery in The Bahamas: Social Considerations and Management Implications.” Ocean and Coastal Management, vol. 210, 2021, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989421002274.
16. Leite, Marilia C. F., et al. “Positive Social-Ecological Feedbacks in Community-Based Conservation.” Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 8, 2021, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.652318/full.
17. MacNeil, M. Aaron, et al. “Recovery Potential of the World’s Coral Reef Fishes.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 112, no. 39, 2015, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1601529113.
18. Mumby, Peter J., et al. “Coral Reef Resilience and the Role of Herbivorous Fish: A Study for the Pew Charitable Trusts.” Pew Environment Group, 2014, https://www.pewtrusts.org/-/media/assets/2014/04/07/oceansciencemumbycoralreefstudy.pdf.
19. “Parrotfish.” Monterey Bay AquariumOrg, www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/parrotfish#:~:text=The%20parrotfish%20plays%20an%20important,the%20animals%20that%20live%20there. Accessed 27 May 2025.
20. “Parrotfish.” The Nature Conservancy, 3 June 2021, www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/parrotfish/.
21. Rathod, Pooja. “In Pursuit of Parrotfish.” Nature inFocus, Nature Infocus, 11 Sept. 2017, www.natureinfocus.in/animals/in-pursuit-of-parrotfish.
22. Roberts, Glenn. “X-Rays Reveal the Biting Truth about Parrotfish Teeth.” Berkeley Lab News Center, 15 Nov. 2017, newscenter.lbl.gov/2017/11/15/xrays-reveal-biting-truth-about-parrotfish-teeth/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThey%20are%20the%20stiffest%2C%20among,contrast%2C%20are%20not%20interconnected%20in.
23. The Nature Conservancy. “Pass on Parrotfish: A Caribbean Call to Action.” Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program, 2019, https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC-Caribbean-CMBP-ParrotfishMagazine.pdf.
24. The Pew Charitable Trusts. “Study Offers New Ecosystem Approach to Parrotfish Management.” The Pew Charitable Trusts, 7 Apr. 2014, https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2014/04/07/study-offers-new-ecosystem-approach-to-parrotfish-management