Sea bream is one of the most recognized and widely consumed sea fish in the Mediterranean. This species, which is both widely found in nature and produced in farms thanks to aquaculture, is a frequent guest on the tables of those who are fond of taste. The bream, whose scientific name is Sparus aurata, belongs to the Sparidae family and is one of the local species that can be observed in modern facilities such as Emaar Aquarium.
What is Bream Fish?
Sparus aurata is commonly called “sea bream” or colloquially “sea bream”. Its English equivalent is “Gilt-head bream”. It gets its name from the shiny golden yellow stripe on its forehead, which is an important physical clue to distinguish it from similar species. The body structure is oval and flattened from the sides; the general coloration is bright silvery. The average length varies between 20-35 cm, but individuals can reach up to 70 cm in their natural habitat.
Place in the Family Sparidae
Sea bream is one of the best known and most economically valuable members of the Sparidae family. In the same family, there are also species such as seabream, snappers, coral and black sea bream. Although most of these fish have similar morphological characteristics, they differ in terms of diet and behavior. The bream is both carnivorous and herbivorous (omnivorous) and this characteristic plays a major role in its adaptation to the farm environment.
Physical Characteristics and Distinctive Details of Bream
The most distinctive physical feature of the bream is the golden yellow belt-like stripe between its two eyes. There are also small golden spots behind each eye. The dorsal fin is in one piece; the front part is spiny and the back part is soft. The caudal fin is forked. Its tooth structure is strong; it can easily break and consume mussels, crabs and other hard shelled creatures.
Habitat and Geographical Distribution
Bream can be found in all warm and temperate seas, especially in the Mediterranean and Aegean. It is also quite common along the East Atlantic coast. Although it usually lives at depths of 0-30 meters, it can go down to 150 meters. It is found on sandy, muddy or rocky ground. In summer it approaches the shore, while in winter it retreats to deeper waters. It can also survive in estuaries and lagoons, indicating that it is tolerant of salinity changes.
How Do Bream Fish Eat?
Bream feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Molluscs, crustaceans, small fish and sometimes sea plants make up its diet. Thanks to its powerful jaws, it can easily break down hard-shelled creatures such as mussels, sea urchins and small crabs. In this way, it forms an important link in the food chain in the area where it lives.
Behavior and Social Structure of Bream
While young bream travel in shoals, adult individuals usually prefer to live alone. Active during the daytime, this species shows more intense feeding behavior in the morning and evening hours. It shows regional mobility when moving; it does not tend to migrate long distances.
How do bream reproduce?
Sea bream is one of the protandric hermaphroditic species, just like the bream. Individuals that are male in their first year become female after about 2-3 years. The breeding period takes place in autumn and winter. Females lay their eggs in the sea and fertilization takes place in the external environment. After their planktonic stage, the larvae turn into young individuals and settle in coastal areas.
Ecological and Economic Importance
Bream play an important role in maintaining the balance in the marine ecosystem. It especially controls the number of hard-shelled creatures on the bottom. Besides, it is one of the most valuable species in the farm fishery sector in Turkey and worldwide. It is produced intensively due to its high meat quality and market value. Sustainable fishing rules have become increasingly stringent in order to protect natural stocks.
Bream Experience at Emaar Aquarium
Emaar Aquarium aims to introduce not only tropical species but also local sea creatures to its visitors. In this context, it is possible to get to know the bream fish closely. Exhibited in tanks designed in accordance with their natural environment, bream attract attention with their observable behaviors and physical characteristics.
Visitors can observe the bream’s golden stripes, swimming style and interaction with other fish. Educational panels provide detailed information about this species and raise awareness about the protection of ecosystems. In this respect, Emaar Aquarium functions not only as a viewing point but also as an educational space that raises awareness of nature.
