Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable. Eat responsibly. Enjoy your meal and always respect sustainable sizes and breeding seasons! Due to ineffective legislation that does not take into account the species biology, the legal size of this fish is substantially lower than the sustainable size. This makes it particularly important to respect the sustainable size shown.

Atherina boyeri is not naturally poisonous, and heavy metal contamination levels have been found to be low, but the species is a common host of the Eustrongylides spp. parasite, however this health concern can be negated by freezing the fish before preparation. A. boyeri did once cause anaphylaxis in a patient.

Silvery-brown body, darker on the dorsal part, bronze reflections on flanks. The head length about four times less than its total length. It has 2 dorsal fins and large eyes. The lateral line appears silver. Looks like: Atherina presbyter (Mediterranean sand smelt): due to their similar morphology and anatomy.

The specific name of boyeri comes from a Medieval poet and scientist, Guillaume Boyer!