The European Conger is one of the most imposing and powerful fish in the regional seas, with a body resembling a snake. It belongs to the Congridae family and is known for its muscular strength and nocturnal lifestyle. The skin is smooth and lacks scales, and it is covered with a thick layer of mucus, making it extremely slimy. The colour is usually dark grey or black on the back and light on the belly.

It is often confused with the European Eel, but there are basic differences between them. The most significant difference involves the position of the dorsal fin: in the conger, it starts immediately behind the head and the pectoral fins, while in the eel, it starts much further back, around the middle of the body. Furthermore, the conger is an exclusively marine species, whereas the eel lives in freshwater and descends to the sea only to spawn.

This is a benthic species that lives on rocky bottoms, inside holes and crevices, and on shipwrecks. Young individuals live in shallow coastal waters, while they move to greater depths, reaching 1000 metres as they grow. It is a strictly nocturnal fish. During the day, it remains hidden in its nest, often with other congers, and it ventures out only at night to hunt.

The animal is a top ambush predator. It feeds primarily on fish such as cod and scorpionfish, along with cephalopods like octopus and cuttlefish, and large crustaceans like crabs and lobsters. It hunts by using its excellent sense of smell to locate prey in the dark.

Fisheries & Economic Value

It is caught mainly with heavy bottom longlines and set nets. Although it has low commercial value due to its appearance and the difficult processing required for skinning the meat, it is of exceptional quality. It is white and oily, with few bones except in the tail area, making it ideal for soup or grilling.