Fish4Life

Choose seafood responsibly - help protect our seas!

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

A sustainable choice when consumed responsibly.

Consume only if sustainable sizes are respected and the species is outside its breeding season.

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.

Sustainable Seafood Calendar

Selecting a month hides species whose breeding/avoid period falls within it.

Currently considered sustainable

Skipjack tuna

Katsuwonus pelamis

Τουοπαλαμίδα - Τουάκι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
41 cm

AVOID

June - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Slender rockfish

Scorpaena elongata

Κοκκινοσκορπίνα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
32 cm

AVOID

August - September

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Mottled grouper

Mycteroperca rubra

Πίγγα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
45 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
45 cm

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Turbot

Scophthalmus maximus

Καλκάνι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
30 cm

AVOID

April - June

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Shrimp scad

Alepes djedaba

Γυμνοκοκκάλι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Lionfish

Pterois miles

Λεοντόψαρο

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Yellowstripe barracuda

Sphyraena chrysotaenia

Κουτσομουρόλουτσος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Black-barred halfbeak

Hemiramphus far

Ημίραμφος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Lessepsian lizardfish

Saurida lessepsianus

Σαυρίδα Λεσσεψιανού

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Reticulated leatherjacket

Stephanolepis diaspros

Μονόχειρος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Por's goatfish

Upeneus pori

Τουρκομπάρμπουνο

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Marbled spinefoot

Siganus rivulatus

Γερμανός - Άσπρη αγριόσαλπα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Dusky spinefoot

Siganus luridus

Γερμανός - Μαύρη αγριόσαλπα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Bigfin reef squid

Sepioteuthis lessoniana

Σουπιοκαλάμαρο

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Rhomboid sweeper

Pempheris rhomboidea

Σαρωτής

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Blue crab

Callinectes sapidus

Γαλαζοκάβουρας

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Porcupine sea urchin

Diadema setosum

Μακράκανθος αχινός

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Redcoat

Sargocentron rubrum

Ακανθόπερκα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

So-iuy mullet

Planiliza haematocheilus

Ζαργανοκέφαλος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Red Sea hardyhead silverside

Atherinomorus forskalii

Κεφαλοαθερίνα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Blue-barred parrotfish

Scarus ghobban

Σκάρος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Narrow-barred spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus commerson

Ταινιοπαλαμίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Red sea goatfish

Parupeneus forsskali

Μπαρμπούνι της Ερυθράς Θάλασσας

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Γοφάρι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
30 cm

AVOID

May - September

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Common octopus

Octopus vulgaris

Χταπόδι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
>750gr
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
>1kg

AVOID

April - October

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Comber

Serranus cabrilla

Χάνος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
16 cm

AVOID

April - July

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Painted comber

Serranus scriba

Πέρκα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
17 cm

AVOID

May - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Leerfish

Lichia amia

Λίτσα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
60 cm

AVOID

April - May

ILLEGAL

-

High level of heavy metals

Blackbellied angler

Lophius budegassa

Πεσκανδρίτσα μαύρη

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
60 cm

AVOID

February - May

ILLEGAL

-

High level of heavy metals

White anglerfish

Lophius piscatorius

Πεσκανδρίτσα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
60 cm

AVOID

March - June

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Greater weever

Trachinus draco

Δράκαινα - Μεγαλοδράκαινα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
15 cm

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Large-eye dentex

Dentex macrophthalmus

Δοντάς - μπαλλάς

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
35 cm

AVOID

July - August

ILLEGAL

-

Sustainable food source

Blue-spotted cornetfish

Fistularia commersonii

Τρομπέτα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm

AVOID

May - October

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Conger eel

Conger conger

Μουγγρί

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
200 cm

AVOID

July - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Red scorpionfish

Scorpaena scrofa

Κόκκινoσκορπίνα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
29 cm

AVOID

May - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Black scorpionfish

Scorpaena porcus

Μαυροσκορπιός

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
18 cm

AVOID

June - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Yellowmouthed barracuda

Sphyraena viridensis

Λούτσος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
28 cm

AVOID

May - July

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Blotched picarel

Spicara maena

Μένουλα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
10 cm

AVOID

March - June

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

European barracuda

Sphyraena sphyraena

Λούτσος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
28 cm

AVOID

May - July

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Cleaver wrasse

Xyrichtis novacula

Κατσούλα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
17 cm

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Pompano

Trachinotus ovatus

Μαυρολίτσα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
31 cm

AVOID

July - August

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Common dentex

Dentex dentex

Συναγρίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
35 cm

AVOID

March - May

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Greater forkbeard

Phycis blennoides

Λασποσαλούβαρδος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
22 cm

AVOID

January - April

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Blue whiting

Micromesistius poutassou

Προσφυγάκι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
15 cm

AVOID

January - March

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

European flounder

Platichthys flesus

Φασί

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
23 cm

AVOID

January - April

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Pink dentex

Dentex gibbosus

Τσαουσάς

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
35 cm

AVOID

March - June

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Stargazer

Uranoscopus scaber

Λύχνος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
16 cm

AVOID

April - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Saddled seabream

Oblada melanurus

Μελανούρι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
19 cm

AVOID

May - July

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Black seabream

Spondyliosoma cantharus

Σκαθάρι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
23 cm

AVOID

February - May

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Little tunny

Euthynnus alletteratus

Καρβούνι - Ντάσκα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
42 cm

AVOID

April - May

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Greater amberjack

Seriola dumerili

Μαγιάτικο

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
91 cm

AVOID

April - May

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Madeiran sardinella

Sardinella maderensis

Φρίσσα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
17 cm

AVOID

April - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Common cuttlefish

Sepia officinalis

Σουπιά

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
12 cm

AVOID

March - July

ILLEGAL

-

No accurate stock assessment

European squid

Loligo vulgaris

Καλαμάρι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
17cm

AVOID

May - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Mediterranean parrotfish

Sparisoma cretense

Σκάρος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
23 cm

AVOID

July - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Wide-eyed flounder

Bothus podas

Χωματίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
21 cm

AVOID

May - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Thor's scaldfish

Arnoglossus thori

Γλώσσα - Ζαγκέτα θωρ

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
12 cm

AVOID

April - July

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Mediterranean scaldfish

Arnoglossus laterna

Γλώσσα - Αρνοζαγκέτα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
12 cm

AVOID

April - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Bullet tuna

Auxis rochei

Κοπάνι - Παλαμίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
35 cm

AVOID

April - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Atlantic bonito

Sarda sarda

Παλαμίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
38 cm

AVOID

April - August

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Atlantic chub mackerel

Scomber colias

Κολιός

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
18 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
21 cm

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

-

Highly exploited

Chub mackerel

Scomber japonicus

Κολιός

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
18 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
26 cm

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

-

Legal size is significantly smaller

Gilthead seabream

Sparus aurata

Τσιπούρα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
20 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
37 cm

AVOID

December - January

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Atlantic horse mackerel

Trachurus trachurus

Σαυρίδι - Γκριζοσάφριδο

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
15 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
15 cm

AVOID

May - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Dover sole

Solea solea

Γλώσσα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
20 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
20 cm

AVOID

January - February

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Striped seabream

Lithognathus mormyrus

Μουρμούρα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
20 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
20 cm

AVOID

December - June

ILLEGAL

-

No accurate stock assessment

Goldblotch grouper

Epinephelus costae

Στήρα - Στήρα μεσογείου

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
45 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
45 cm

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

-

Natural stocks are decreasing

Red porgy

Pagrus pagrus

Φαγγρί

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
18 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
32 cm

AVOID

February - May

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Axillary seabream

Pagellus acarne

Μουσμούλι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
17 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
18 cm

AVOID

April - June

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Common pandora

Pagellus erythrinus

Λυθρίνι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
15 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
15 cm

AVOID

April - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Blue jack mackerel

Trachurus picturatus

Μαυροσάφριδο

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
15 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
23 cm

AVOID

April - May

ILLEGAL

-

Legal size is significantly smaller

Atlantic mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Σκουμπρί

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
18 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
29 cm

AVOID

March - May

ILLEGAL

-

Stocks are decreasing

White grouper

Epinephelus aeneus

Σφυρίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
45 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
55 cm

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Common two-banded seabream

Diplodus vulgaris

Κακαρέλος - Χαρακίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
18 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
18 cm

AVOID

December - January

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

White seabream

Diplodus sargus sargus

Σαργός

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
23 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
23 cm

AVOID

January - March

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus

Γαύρος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
9 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
12 cm

AVOID

May - October

ILLEGAL

-

Natural stocks are decreasing

European seabass

Dicentrarchus labrax

Λαβράκι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
25 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
36 cm

AVOID

December - March

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Round sardinella

Sardinella aurita

Φρίσσα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
10 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
17 cm

AVOID

May - July

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Bogue

Boops boops

Γόπα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
10 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
14 cm

AVOID

-

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Blackspot seabream

Pagellus bogaraveo

Κεφαλάς - Μπαλλάς

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
33 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
33 cm

AVOID

January - June

ILLEGAL

-

Undersize fish highly caught by trawlers

Red mullet

Mullus barbatus

Κουτσομούρα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
11 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
13 cm

AVOID

April - September

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Annular seabream

Diplodus annularis

Σπάρος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
12 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
12 cm

AVOID

April - June

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Big-scale sand-smelt

Atherina boyeri

Αθερίνα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
5 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
6 cm

AVOID

March - July

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Mediterranean horse mackerel

Trachurus mediterraneus

Ασπροσάφριδο

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
15 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
20 cm

AVOID

April - August

ILLEGAL

-

Undersize fish highly caught by trawlers

Striped red mullet

Mullus surmuletus

Μπαρμπούνι

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
11 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
15 cm

AVOID

May - August

ILLEGAL

-

Currently considered sustainable

Picarel

Spicara smaris

Μαρίδα

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
10 cm

AVOID

April - May

ILLEGAL

-

High level of heavy metals

Albacore tuna

Thunnus alalunga

Τόνος Μακρύπτερος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
83cm (length until the center fork of the tail) or 1.5kg

AVOID

June - August

ILLEGAL

October - November

No accurate stock assessment

Atlantic wreckfish

Polyprion americanus

Βλάχος

Legal Minimum
0 cm120 cm
45 cm
Recommended
0 cm120 cm
78 cm

AVOID

July - August

ILLEGAL

-

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