Hybrid grouper is a new type of grouper. The first hybrid grouper is cross-bred by researches from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Malaysia, in collaboration among researchers of the Borneo Marine Research Institute of UMS, the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) and Kinki University of Japan, represented by Prof. Dr Shigeharu Senoo of UMS.

This kind of grouper that not only matures faster, but is also able to withstand the vaga­ries of environmental conditions.  The hybrid grouper was a major breakthrough because the species could withstand fluctuations in environmental conditions caused by climate change.  Hybrid grouper reached maturity in about 8 months, which was about forty percents faster than its non-hybrid parents. Hybrid grouper was produced by fertilising the eggs of the tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) with the sperm of the giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) through the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique.