Red Seabream

The Mediterranean Red Seabream, also known as the Common Seabream or the Red Porgy, is one of the most iconic, sought-after, and delicious fish in the region's waters. It is known as the King of the Reds, along with the Common Dentex, and represents a passionate desire for both recreational fishers and gourmets. The body is strong, oval, and laterally compressed, with a colour that varies from pink-silver to intense red on the back and white on the belly. The most characteristic feature that makes it stand out from its relative species is found in its tail. The two tips of the caudal fin are always snowy white, as if it has a French manicure, while the central part is reddish. The profile of its head is smooth and curved without the hump of the Pink Dentex. It possesses powerful jaws armed with four to six canine teeth in front for grabbing and rows of rounded molars in the back for breaking shells.

This is a benthopelagic species that prefers clean waters. It lives mainly on rocky or mixed bottoms, and on sandy, muddy substrates near rocks, as well as at the boundaries of Posidonia seagrass meadows. The depth where it is encountered depends on its age. Young individuals live in waters as shallow as 60 metres and often find refuge in seaweed. Adults descend to greater depths, usually from 50 to 150 metres, although they have been recorded down to 250 metres.

The animal is a carnivorous fish with a varied diet. It feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates, such as crustaceans (including crabs and shrimp) and molluscs (such as squid, octopus, and mussels), which it crushes with its strong molars. It also hunts small fish.

The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. All fish start their lives as females and mature sexually at approximately three years of age when they reach 24 centimetres. Later in their lives, many of them change sex and transform into males. Reproduction takes place in the spring, primarily from April to June, when the water temperature ranges between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius.

It has enormous commercial value due to the quality of its meat. It is caught professionally with longlines, set nets, and bottom trawls. For recreational fishers, it is a top catch with techniques such as handlines, jigging, and bottom trolling. The meat is excellent, white, delicious, and juicy while being ideal for grilling over charcoal.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Red Seabream as a species of Least Concern at a global level. However, its populations in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic have decreased due to overfishing. Scientific studies have shown that it is a species with relatively slow growth and a long life span that can reach 26 years. It has also been observed that sex change is a critical phase that is influenced by social factors, and the removal of large males from a population can trigger premature sex change in females.

Country	Local Name
Italy	Pagro comune
Spain	Pargo
France	Pagre commun
Malta	Pagru
Croatia	Pagar
Slovenia	Pagar
Turkey	Mercan
Tunisia	Gerali
Libya	Bagro
Egypt	Kgag ahmr
Cyprus	Fagkri
Greece	Fagkri