The European Seabass is undoubtedly the king of the Mediterranean coastal waters and one of the most intelligent and suspicious fish. It belongs to the Moronidae family, and its name is derived from its voracity because it feeds with great greed. The body is elongated and spindle-shaped, designed for rapid acceleration, with silver sides that darken on the back to lead or blue shades, and a white belly. It bears two characteristic spines on the gill cover.

This is an extremely adaptable species that lives in shallow coastal waters. It possesses the property of being euryhaline, which means it withstands massive changes in salinity. For this reason, it is encountered not only in the open sea and on rocky shores but also in ports and lagoons, and very often in river estuaries, where it can swim several kilometres into fresh water while hunting mullets.

It is a top and opportunistic predator that hunts mainly at dusk, night, and dawn. Young individuals feed on invertebrates such as shrimp and worms. As they grow, they become fish-eaters exclusively, actively hunting schools of sand smelts, sardines, mullets, and bogue. It often uses wave foam and murky water to surprise its prey.

Breeding takes place in the heart of winter when the waters are cold, usually from January to March. Adult fish form schools and move toward specific spawning areas, often near brackish waters or river estuaries, where eggs and larvae will have a better chance of survival.

Fisheries & Economic Value

The European Seabass has high commercial value and is considered one of the finest fish for the table, with white, delicious meat. It is caught professionally with nets and longlines. For recreational fishers, it represents the ultimate trophy due to its strength and cunning, and it is caught mainly with spinning using artificial lures and surfcasting from the shore. In the region, there is also massive production from aquaculture units.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the seabass as a species of Least Concern globally, although wild populations are under pressure. Scientific studies have focused on the genetic purity of populations because there is concern that wild fish interbreeding with escapees from farms may affect the adaptability of wild stocks. Furthermore, research has shown that it is a species that learns quickly and can remember negative experiences, such as being hooked while trying to avoid baits, in the future.