Temperate Seawaters

It is found between 30 and 200 meters deep. It lives near cavities where it takes refuge in case of danger. The male has large pectoral fins and is surrounded by a harem of a dozen females. If it dies, the dominant female becomes a male (protogynous hermaphroditism).

Fertilization is internal. The male uses its anal fin to fertilize the female. The latter deposits a packet of eggs that the male will keep in the mouth until hatching. During the period, it does not eat and can starve to death if it has not accumulated enough reserves.

It owes its name of pomfrets to its coloration reminiscent of a chestnut. In spring, males defend a nesting area and ventilate the eggs until they hatch. Juveniles are electric blue and live in small groups.

Large males can be recognized by their green backs, their white bellies and their broad orange line on the flanks. The coloration, associated with a characteristic swimming, is used to impress other males and attract the attention of females, but also predators.

Dicentrarchus labrax also known as "european bass", sea bass" or "loup de mer" is an emblematic fish of European coasts. The species has been known and appreciated for its meat since the Antiquity. Unfortunately, it is threatened by overfishing. Today, most of the bars consumed in Europe are raised in aquaculture farms.

It differs from other bream species by its smaller size and golden reflections. It is a hermaphrodite species protandrous: males become females during their lives. Its meat is less appreciated than other sparidae (sea bream, bream ...).

They often live in small groups. It teeth allows it to crush the shells and shells of its prey (sea urchins, crustaceans, bivalves ...). It is prized for its meat, with a very fine taste.

It is sometimes called the "Saint Anthony" because of the black strip on the back of it head that resembles the hood of a monk. It is often found in groups with other species of bream. It is highly sought after by fishermen.

The dusky grouper is a major predator of shallow rocky areas, hunting stealthily for octopuses, invertebrates, and fish. Despite its global distribution, it is threatened by overfishing. This species has been protected on the French Mediterranean coast since 1993. The combined effects of regulations, climate change, and marine protected areas contribute to the successful restoration of grouper populations, which are increasing once again.

The nocturnal animal also feeds on dead animals. Its bite is not venomous, but very painful. It body, completely smooth (scales, flippers ...) allows it to slide easily backwards into a hole. It is one of the ingredients of the "bouillabaisse".

Unlike many other sea Sparidae (sea bream, bream ...), it lives near the surface. It is sometimes found in ports where it feeds on waste. In some countries, it is highly prized by fishermen although its flesh is rather soft.

It lives at shallow depth. It is voracious and does not hesitate to strip fishermen’s hooks. Reproduction takes place from March to May. The male delimits a territory with a natural crevice. Several females deposit sticky eggs. The male will watch the eggs until they hatch.

During the day, it lives in schools and often "grazes" Posidonia leaves (underwater flowering plant). It also eats small animals that live hanging on the leaves. Juveniles live in very shallow waters. It flesh, soft and bland, is not appreciated.

It often lives below 30 meters depth. In the spring, it goes close to the surface to spawn in the sea grass. Its spines are venomous. The sting is very painful, but rarely fatal. It is one of the essential ingredients of bouillabaisse.

It is especially active at dusk. During the day, it stays on the bottom. It can close it eyes with a sort of eyelids. Its flesh is edible, but it liver is toxic! Its eggs can be incubated and hatched in an aquarium.

It is very aggressive towards fishes from its species, except during the breeding season: In the spring, at nightfall, a pair forms and performs a complex courtship. It is a synchronous hermaphrodite: male and female at the same time. Very curious, it often approach divers.

During breeding, the bream groups enter lagoons and estuaries to mate. Sought after since the Antiquity for the quality of its meat: the Romans fattened bream in tanks. Its intensive pisciculture has developed since the 80s.

The black seabream is a prized species in western fisheries. It lives alone or in large groups near seagrass beds and rocky bottoms, seeking small invertebrates such as crustaceans or mollusks.

It is one of the most colorful Mediterranean fish. The female has a black spot on the dorsal fin. The stain will disappear and its color becomes more vivid when it will change sex (hermaphroditism protogynous). It is more abundant in the northern Mediterranean.