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.

Common cuttlefish
Sepia officinalis
Σουπιά

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

12 cm

Avoid Consumption Period

March – July

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 individuals completely unprotected. Always respect minimum sustainable size limits and do not consume this species during its breeding season.

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

Archipelagos Tips

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

Large quantities of juvenile cuttlefish are often found on the market. Although this is not currently illegal, it is highly destructive and threatens the sustainability of cuttlefish populations.

If you spot juvenile cuttlefish for sale, please report it to us. Your observations help us monitor the scale of this problem.

Common names

FR

Seiche

it

Seppia

es

Choco

tr

Subye

pt

Choco-vulgar

nl

Gewone zeekat

de

Gemeine Sepia

toxicity

This species is safe to consume.

iucn info

Least concern (LC)

Description

They have eight arms and two tentacles which both end in a tentacular club with 5-6 rows of suckers. It has an oval, flattened body. Its cuttlebone is anteriorly and posteriorly rounded, with parallel sides. Its colour is very variable; may be black-brown, striped or mottled on the dorsal surface, paler to white on the ventral surface.

It looks like Sepia hierredda (Giant African cuttlefish) similar color patterns to Sepia officinalis. Higher number of transverse rows of suckers on the arms. Longer striated zone on the cuttlebone for specimens from the northeastern Atlantic. Narrower mantle and shorter arms compared to Sepia officinalis.

Did you know?

The dark‑brown ink of the common cuttlefish, called sepia was once used extensively for writing and drawing!

Ecological Aspects

Diet

Carnivorous and cannabilistic.
Feeds on crustaceans, small fishes, and mollusks.

habitat

Benthopelagic.
Found on sandy and muddy floors. Prefers shallow coastal waters.

Max size & depth range

Max length: 49 cm
Max weight: 4 kg
Depth range: 0-200 m

breeding & Growth

Gonochoric (seperate sexes).
During courtship, the female can choose which sperm she wants to fertilize her eggs with. Adults die after breeding season.
Growth rate: Fast (k = 0.58yr⁻¹).

Longevity & presence

Lifespan: 12-24 months
Max reported age: 30 months
Distribution: Mediterranean, South Africa, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Eastern Atlantic.

appearance changes

Males are larger than females. They shift colour to match the background using specilise cells called chromatophores.

Reproductive Cycle

Egg count: 100-1,000 eggs
Reproductive frequency: Numerous egg batches released over a period of 2 to 9 months.
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