Sea bream

Sea bream is a common name used for several related marine fish, especially species in the family Sparidae.

Sea bream is a common name used for several related marine fish, especially species in the family Sparidae. In many contexts it refers to the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), a coastal fish found in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean and widely farmed and eaten in Europe.

Taxonomy and naming

Sea bream is a common name applied to several related fish, especially in the family Sparidae. The name is also used for the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), which is often referred to as dorada or dorade in Mediterranean countries.

Description and biology

Gilthead sea bream are medium-sized, deep-bodied fish with a silver-blue body and a gold band between the eyes. They are generally carnivorous, feeding on crustaceans, worms, shellfish, and small fish, though some sources also note marine vegetation in the diet.

Habitat and range

Sea bream are coastal fish associated with estuaries, bays, rocky or sandy bottoms, and seagrass or inshore habitats. The gilthead sea bream occurs in the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and parts of the Black Sea, with depth ranges reported from shallow water to about 150 m.

Human use

Sea bream is widely harvested and farmed as a food fish, especially in Mediterranean aquaculture and cuisine. It is valued as a white fish with firm flesh and is sold under common market names such as sea bream, gilt-head bream, dorada, and dorade.