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.

Greater forkbeard
Phycis blennoides
Λασποσαλούβαρδος

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

–

Prohibited Consumption Period

–

Sustainable

Minimum Size

22 cm

Avoid Consumption Period

January – April

Advice for Consumption

Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable.

Greek legislation does not establish legal minimum size and no closed season, leaving 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

Mostelle

it

Musdea bianca

es

Brótola de fango

tr

Çatalsakal gelincik balığı

pt

Abrótea

nl

Gaffelkabeljauw

de

Gabeldorsch

toxicity

This species is safe to consume.

iucn info

Least concern (LC)

Description

Pelvic fin rays extremely elongated, reaching well beyond the origin of the anal fin. The first dorsal fin is triangular with a dark spot and smaller than the second dorsal fin, which is long and low. It has a small, rounded caudal fin, and small pectoral fins. Its color is typically a light pinkish-beige or yellowish, with purple reflections on the back and dark edges on its fins.

It looks like Phycis phycis (Forkbeard), Phycis blennoides has a more laterally compressed body.

Did you know?

The greater forkbeard has two long wormlike protrusions called barbels on its chin from which it gets its name!

Ecological Aspects

Diet

Carnivorous.
Feeds on crustaceans and fishes.

habitat

Benthopelagic.
Found over sandy or muddy bottoms.

Max size & depth range

Max length: 110 cm
Max weight: 3.5 kg
Depth range: 10-1047 m

breeding & Growth

Gonochoric (seperate sexes). Broadcast spawner as eggs are released directly into the water and are not guarded or kept together. Spawns between January through May.
Growth rate: Slow (k = 0.168yr⁻¹).

Longevity & presence

Lifespan: 5-10 years
Max reported age: 20 Years
Distribution: Mediterranean, West Africa, and Eastern Atlantic

appearance changes

Sexual dimorphism where females grow larger and mature later than males.

Reproductive Cycle

Egg count: 1,643,899 eggs
Reproductive frequency: Numerous times over the spawning 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