DONATE
Back to Fish4Life Project
Help improve Fish4Life

Fish4Life provides everything you need to enjoy seafood responsibly. Explore information and practical tips for safe and sustainable seafood consumption, and help protect marine life by reporting undersized or illegally traded seafood.

Blackspot seabream
Pagellus bogaraveo
Κεφαλάς – Μπαλλάς

Sustainability Status

Currently considered sustainable

REPORT IT
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

Legal

Minimum Size

33 cm

Prohibited Consumption Period

–

Sustainable

Minimum Size

33 cm

Avoid Consumption Period

January – June

Advice for Consumption

Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable.

Greek legislation does not establish a closed season for this species, leaving both juvenile and spawning fish completely unprotected.

Choose responsibly by respecting sustainable size limits and avoiding consumption during the breeding season.

Archipelagos Tips

Choosing larger, mature fish helps reduce fishing pressure on juvenile individuals.

Common names

FR

Pageot rose

it

Pagello pezzogna

es

Besugo

tr

Mandagöz mercan

pt

Goraz

nl

Rode zeebrasem

de

Graubarsch

toxicity

This species is safe to consume.

iucn info

Least concern (LC)

Description

Large black spot at origin of lateral line and a dark red blotchs at base of pectoral fin base. Snout shorter than the eye diameter. Fusiformal/normal body shape. Brownish-red fins.

It looks like Pagellus erythrinus (Pandora), it has the same body shape and color. It also looks like Pagellus acarne (Axillary seabream) which has a similar shape & habitat. As well as Pagrus pagrus (Red porgy, Common seabream), which has a similar robust, pink body.

Did you know?

It’s a ram ventilator, meaning it swims forward with its mouth open to force water to flow across its gills!

Ecological Aspects

Diet

Omnivorous.
Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, worms and small fish.

habitat

Benthopelagic (primarily over muddy ocean floors).

Max size & depth range

Max length: 70 cm
Max weight: 4 kg
Depth range: 150-700 m

breeding & Growth

Protandric hermaphrodites. Start as males, become females at 20-30 cm. Spawns from January through June depending on latitude.
Growth rate: Slow (k = 0.130yr⁻¹).

Longevity & presence

Lifespan: 13-15 years
Max reported age: 15 years
Distribution: Exclusive to Western Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic.

appearance changes

Young Pagellus bogaraveo are bright, silvery-gray with prominent golden horizontal stripes along the body. The black spot at the base of the pectoral fin only becomes prominent when they mature.
As they reach maturity, their appearance shifts to a vibrant, overall reddish-pink color, retaining a silvery sheen. The fins often display a reddish tint.

Reproductive Cycle

Egg count seasonally: 70,000 – 500,000
Reproduction frequency: Numerous times throughout the season.
Facebook Youtube Instagram

Help improve Fish4Life!

How did you find Fish4Life?
Is there anything you would improve?
Is there anything else you would like us to add?

Thank you for your contribution. This project is built for the public and should be shaped by its community. We welcome your comments and any information you feel is important to include.

Spotted illegal or undersized seafood? Report it!

Upload a Photo
Date & Location
Where did you spot it?
Please let us know where
What is the name of the business or fishing vessel selling the seafood?
Description:
Additional information (optional)

Your contribution helps us document illegal and unsustainable fishing practices and protect our seas.

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