Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus Aurata)

The Gilt Head Sea Bream is a fish with shimmering, silver skin and tender, white flesh. It has a rich, succulent taste, and its bones are small and easily removed, leaving the diner with an appealing, meaty portion on the plate. When grilled or braised, the flesh stays moist because of a layer of fat between the skin and the body. One hundred grams of edible meat contain 113 calories.

Geographical Distribution

Common throughout Mediterranean, les frequent in eastern and south-eastern Mediterranean, very rare in Black Sea. Atlantic from British Isles to Cape Verde and around the Canary Islands.

Habitat and Biology

• Benthopelagic (demersal behaviour). A coastal species, inhabiting seagrass beds, rocky and sandy bottoms as well as in the surf zone commonly to depts of about 30 m, but the adults may occur to 150 m depth.Euryhaline, entering brackish waters. A sedentary fish, solitary or forming small aggregations.
• A protandric hermaphrodite; the majority individuals are first males, then become females. Spawning occurs from October to December; maturity at 1-2 years (20-30 cm) for males, 2-3 years (33-40 cm) for females; do not spawn in Black Sea.
• Mainly carnivorous, (molluscs, particularly musels which it can easily crush, crustaceans and fish); but accessorily herbivorous.

Size:
Maximum 70 cm; common to 35 cm.