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Black-barred halfbeak
Hemiramphus far
Ημίραμφος

Sustainability Status

Sustainable food source

Help us protect our seas by reporting illegal or undersized fish that you see in markets, restaurants or fishing boats
Good choice – Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable
Alien / Invasive – This species is not from this region and can have a negative impact on the ecosystem and threaten local biodiversity, so it is sustainable to eat

Legal

Minimum Size

Prohibited Consumption Period

Sustainable

Minimum Size

Avoid Consumption Period

Advice for Consumption

Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable.

Archipelagos Tips

Consumption of this species helps the ecosystem as it is an alien species!

Common names

FR

Demi-bec bagnard

it

Mezzobecco

es

Agujete manchada

tr

Yarımgaga balığı

pt

Meia-agulha

nl

Zwartgestreepte halvebek

de

Gefleckter Halbschnäbler

toxicity

This species is safe to consume.

iucn info

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Description

It has an elongated, oval-shaped body with a greatly prolonged, beak-like lower jaw and a short, triangular upper jaw. The body is bluish above and silvery on the sides, with several vertical bars along the flanks. The pectoral fins are short, while the dorsal and anal fins are positioned far back on the body. The lower lobe of the caudal fin is longer than the upper lobe.

It looks like Hemiramphus balao (Balao halfbeak) and Hemiramphus marginatus (Yellowtip halfbeak/Barred halfbeak) are similar in overall body shape and coloration to Hemiramphus far.

Did you know?

The invasive black-barred halfbeaks form large schools and feed primarily on seagrasses and have a distinct prolonged lower jaw!

Ecological Aspects

Diet

Herbivorous.
Feeds on seagrass and green algae.

habitat

Pelagic.
Found in coastal waters and continental shorelines. Forms schools and found in areas rich with vegetation or sand flats.

Max size & depth range

Max length: 45 cm
Max weight: 160 g
Depth range: 0-6 m

breeding & Growth

Gonochoric (separate sexes). Females lay eggs anchored to vegetation. Spawning occurs May through July.
Growth rate: Moderate(k = 0.48y⁻¹).

Longevity & presence

Lifespan: 4 years
Max reported age: 4 years
Distribution: Mediterranean and Indo-West Pacific.

appearance changes

Reproductive Cycle

Egg Count: 54,250-79,250 eggs
Reproductive frequency: Once annually.

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If you’d like to learn more about the work of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, please visit our website: https://archipelago.gr/

Good choice – Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable

Illegal species – Fishing, selling and consumption of this species is illegal

Fishstocks – Declining due to overexploitation

Think before you eat – This species faces increasing pressures and should only be consumed responsibly

Bad choice – Consumption of this species is unsustainable

Health concerns
Can accumulate dangerously high levels of toxic substances harmful to health

Alien / Invasive – This species is not from this region and can have a negative impact on the ecosystem and threaten local biodiversity, so it is sustainable to eat

Aquafarms – You will commonly find this species coming from aquafarms