What is Fish4Life?
Fish4Life is a guide to sustainable fish consumption in Greece and across the Mediterranean. It provides the public with clear, accessible guidance on which seafood is sustainable to eat and when it should be consumed or avoided. The platform offers clear information on each species’ status (e.g., whether it is legal, illegal, or sustainable to consume) and highlights breeding and spawning seasons, when consumption should be avoided, while also providing information on the legal minimum size and the minimum sustainable size for each species.
Unfortunately, more than 70 species are inadequately protected under Greek law – they either do not have a legal minimum size or the existing legal minimum size is significantly smaller than the minimum sustainable size. Moreover, illegal and undersized species are still frequently found in Greek markets and restaurants. Fish4Life helps you identify and avoid them, and encourages you to report them when encountered. Through the monthly calendar, you can easily identify which species are more sustainable to consume each month.
Fish4Life was developed by Archipelagos’ researchers, combining almost 30 years of field experience and research in the Greek seas with scientific knowledge and the invaluable advice of artisanal fishers who fish sustainably and share our concern for the conservation of marine biodiversity and the future of our seas.
Why Should YOU Care?
Choosing sustainable seafood is one of the simplest ways you can protect our seas. When seafood is caught responsibly, populations remain healthy, ecosystems are able to recover, and future generations can continue to enjoy the seafood we love.
Sustainable choices also support coastal communities, fair working conditions, and small-scale fishers who depend on healthy seas. Every seafood choice you make has an impact. By supporting sustainable fishing, you help protect marine life, strengthen local communities, and safeguard the future of our seas.
Legal Does Not Always Mean Sustainable
Just because seafood is legal does not mean it is sustainable.
Many species are still legally caught before they have reproduced or during their breeding season, increasing the risk of stock depletion.
Legal minimum size = the smallest size allowed by law.
Recommended sustainable size = the size at which a species has reproduced at least once.
✔ Choose seafood larger than the recommended sustainable size
✘ Avoid seafood during breeding seasons
Your choices can help protect marine biodiversity and keep our seas healthy for future generations.
Report It
Have you noticed illegal or undersized seafood being caught or sold, or species being marketed during closed seasons? Report it. Illegal and unsustainable fishing harms marine life, undermines honest fishers, and jeopardizes the future of our seas.
Fish4Life also serves as a citizen observatory, creating a two-way exchange of information between citizens and researchers. Share your observations, report incidents, ask questions, and receive feedback or further information about your report. If possible, please include photos or videos, as these can greatly help document and verify incidents.
Enjoy Seafood Sustainably
KEY
- Sustainable Choice
A sustainable choice when consumed responsibly.
- Consume with Caution
Consume only if sustainable sizes are respected and the species is outside its breeding season.
- Avoid Consumption
Avoid purchasing or consuming these species.
Eat Well & Responsibly
Choose Your Language
Select your preferred language to view species cards and search by common name (in any available language) or scientific name.
Currently considered sustainable
Slender rockfish
Scorpaena elongata
Κοκκινοσκορπίνα
AVOID
August - September
ILLEGAL
-
Highly exploited
Turbot
Scophthalmus maximus
Καλκάνι
AVOID
April - June
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Shrimp scad
Alepes djedaba
Γυμνοκοκκάλι
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Lionfish
Pterois miles
Λεοντόψαρο
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Yellowstripe barracuda
Sphyraena chrysotaenia
Κουτσομουρόλουτσος
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Black-barred halfbeak
Hemiramphus far
Ημίραμφος
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Lessepsian lizardfish
Saurida lessepsianus
Σαυρίδα Λεσσεψιανού
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Reticulated leatherjacket
Stephanolepis diaspros
Μονόχειρος
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Por's goatfish
Upeneus pori
Τουρκομπάρμπουνο
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Marbled spinefoot
Siganus rivulatus
Γερμανός - Άσπρη αγριόσαλπα
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Dusky spinefoot
Siganus luridus
Γερμανός - Μαύρη αγριόσαλπα
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Bigfin reef squid
Sepioteuthis lessoniana
Σουπιοκαλάμαρο
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Rhomboid sweeper
Pempheris rhomboidea
Σαρωτής
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Blue crab
Callinectes sapidus
Γαλαζοκάβουρας
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Porcupine sea urchin
Diadema setosum
Μακράκανθος αχινός
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Redcoat
Sargocentron rubrum
Ακανθόπερκα
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
So-iuy mullet
Planiliza haematocheilus
Ζαργανοκέφαλος
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Red Sea hardyhead silverside
Atherinomorus forskalii
Κεφαλοαθερίνα
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Blue-barred parrotfish
Scarus ghobban
Σκάρος
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Narrow-barred spanish mackerel
Scomberomorus commerson
Ταινιοπαλαμίδα
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Sustainable food source
Red sea goatfish
Parupeneus forsskali
Μπαρμπούνι της Ερυθράς Θάλασσας
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Leerfish
Lichia amia
Λίτσα
AVOID
April - May
ILLEGAL
-
High level of heavy metals
Blackbellied angler
Lophius budegassa
Πεσκανδρίτσα μαύρη
AVOID
February - May
ILLEGAL
-
High level of heavy metals
White anglerfish
Lophius piscatorius
Πεσκανδρίτσα
AVOID
March - June
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Blotched picarel
Spicara maena
Μένουλα
AVOID
March - June
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Salema porgy
Sarpa salpa
Σάλπα
AVOID
September - November
ILLEGAL
-
Highly exploited
Common dentex
Dentex dentex
Συναγρίδα
AVOID
March - May
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Greater forkbeard
Phycis blennoides
Λασποσαλούβαρδος
AVOID
January - April
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Blue whiting
Micromesistius poutassou
Προσφυγάκι
AVOID
January - March
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
European flounder
Platichthys flesus
Φασί
AVOID
January - April
ILLEGAL
-
Highly exploited
Pink dentex
Dentex gibbosus
Τσαουσάς
AVOID
March - June
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Black seabream
Spondyliosoma cantharus
Σκαθάρι
AVOID
February - May
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Little tunny
Euthynnus alletteratus
Καρβούνι - Ντάσκα
AVOID
April - May
ILLEGAL
-
Highly exploited
Greater amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Μαγιάτικο
AVOID
April - May
ILLEGAL
-
Legal size is significantly smaller
Gilthead seabream
Sparus aurata
Τσιπούρα
AVOID
December - January
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Dover sole
Solea solea
Γλώσσα
AVOID
January - February
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Striped seabream
Lithognathus mormyrus
Μουρμούρα
AVOID
December - June
ILLEGAL
-
Natural stocks are decreasing
Red porgy
Pagrus pagrus
Φαγγρί
AVOID
February - May
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Axillary seabream
Pagellus acarne
Μουσμούλι
AVOID
April - June
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Blue jack mackerel
Trachurus picturatus
Μαυροσάφριδο
AVOID
April - May
ILLEGAL
-
Legal size is significantly smaller
Atlantic mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Σκουμπρί
AVOID
March - May
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Common two-banded seabream
Diplodus vulgaris
Κακαρέλος - Χαρακίδα
AVOID
December - January
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
White seabream
Diplodus sargus sargus
Σαργός
AVOID
January - March
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Sharpsnout seabream
Diplodus puntazzo
Ούγαινα - Χιόνα
AVOID
September - November
ILLEGAL
-
Natural stocks are decreasing
European seabass
Dicentrarchus labrax
Λαβράκι
AVOID
December - March
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Bogue
Boops boops
Γόπα
AVOID
-
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Blackspot seabream
Pagellus bogaraveo
Κεφαλάς - Μπαλλάς
AVOID
January - June
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Annular seabream
Diplodus annularis
Σπάρος
AVOID
April - June
ILLEGAL
-
Currently considered sustainable
Picarel
Spicara smaris
Μαρίδα
AVOID
April - May
ILLEGAL
-