The European Hake is one of the most valuable commercial fish in the Mediterranean. The body is elongated and slender, with a silver-grey colour on the back and white on the belly. It has a large mouth with a black interior and is armed with two rows of very sharp, pointed teeth that tilt inward, preventing prey from escaping.

This is a benthic species that lives near the seabed and usually in areas with mud. The depth at which it is encountered varies by age and season, but it usually ranges from 70 to 400 metres, though it can reach as deep as 1000 metres. During the day, it remains inactive on the bottom, while at night it rises higher in the water column to hunt.

Fisheries & Economic Value

It is one of the most important catches for regional fisheries. It is caught mainly by bottom trawlers but also with longlines and nets. The meat of fresh hake is white and soft, with a delicate flavour and few bones, and it has very high commercial value.

The European Hake is a voracious predator. Young individuals feed primarily on small crustaceans such as shrimp. As they grow, they become fish-eaters exclusively, feeding on other fish such as anchovies and sardines, smaller hake through cannibalism, and squid.