 The great northern tilefish is known to dig and occupy burrows along the outer continental shelf , and on the flanks of submarine canyons in malleable clay substrate . Due to their long life expectancy , slow growth , complex breeding system , and habitat specificity , they are vulnerable to over @-@ exploitation , and they are susceptible to mass mortality events due to cold water intrusion and over @-@ fishing . Their abundance is strongly correlated with presence of silt @-@ clay substrate , because the soft clay enables the fish to create the burrow itself by simply digging away the clay substrate . It had been documented that the minimum temperature threshold for golden tilefish is 9 ° C ( 48 ° F ) . Temperature observations and measurements are obtained via interpolated observations . Temperature plots indicate that 9 ° C ( 48 ° F ) is the norm for the area around Florida and the Gulf of Mexico . 
