Species FAO code: BSS

Dicentrarchus labrax

Page contents

Commercial designations
Production methods and fishing gears
Conservation measures
Marketing standards
Species distribution and habitat
Species description
Combined Nomenclature

Commercial designations

Country	Commercial designations	Names accepted or permitted locally or regionally
Austria	de Wolfsbarsch	–
Belgium	fr Bar nl Zeebaars	–
Bulgaria	bg Лаврак bg Лаврак [Morone labrax synonym for Dicentrarchus labrax]	–
Croatia	hr lubin hr brancin	–
Cyprus	el λαβράκι	–
Czech Republic	cs Mořčák evropský cs Vlk mořský cs Mořský vlk cs Okoun mořský	–
Denmark	da Bars da havbars da almindelig bars	–
Estonia	et Huntahven	–
Finland	fi meribassi sv havsabborre	–
France	fr bar commun fr loup fr bar	–
Germany	de Wolfsbarsch	–
Greece	el Λαβράκι	–
Hungary	hu farkassügér hu tengeri sügér	–
Ireland	en European seabass en Salmon bass ga Doingean mara Eorpach	–
Italy	it Spigola it branzino	–
Latvia	lv Labraks lv Jūrasasaris	–
Lithuania	lt paprastasis vilkešeris	–
Luxembourg	de Wolfsbarsch fr bar commun fr loup fr bar	–
Malta	en European seabass it Spigola mt Spnott	–
Netherlands	nl Zeebaars	–
Poland	pl Labraks pl moron	–
Portugal	pt Robalo pt Robalo-legítimo pt Robalete	–
Slovenia	sl brancin	–
Spain	es Lubina es Róbalo	Asturias: Roballiza Asturias: Furagaña Balearic Islands: Llobarro Balearic Islands: Llop Canary Islands: Lubina Cantabria: Chova Catalonia: Llobarro Valencia: Llobarro Galicia: Robaliza Murcia: Lubina Basque Country: Lupina
Sweden	sv Havsabborre	–

Main production methods

Caught
Farmed

Main fishing gears

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)

Minimum conservation reference sizes

As defined in art. 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/812 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015, which admends article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, where minimum conservation reference sizes are established, they shall constitute minimum marketing sizes. More

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 42.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

North Sea: the North Sea shall comprise ICES sub-area 4, the adjacent part of ICES Division 2a lying south of latitude 64° N, and that part of ICES Division 3a which is not covered by the definition of Skagerrak

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 36.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.8 Bay of Biscay (Subarea VIII)
27.9 Portuguese Waters (Subarea IX)
27.10 Azores Grounds (Subarea X)
34.2 Northern Oceanic
34.1.1 Morocco Coastal
34.1.2 Canaries/Madeira Insular

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 42.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

27.5 Iceland and Faeroes Grounds (Subarea V)
27.6 Rockall, Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland, (the Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland also known as the West of Scotland) (Subarea VI)
27.7 Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, Eastern and Western English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea North and South, and Southwest of Ireland - East and West (Subarea VII)

Minimum conservation reference size

≥ 25.0 cmTotal length (TL)

Fishing areas

37.1 Western Mediterranean
37.2 Central Mediterranean
37.3 Eastern Mediterranean

Habitat

Saltwater
Freshwater
Brackish water

FAO major fishing areas

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution maps

Source: Aquamaps - Computer Generated Native Distribution Map for Dicentrarchus labrax

Source: FAO - FAO aquatic species distribution map of Dicentrarchus labrax

Scientific name

Dicentrarchus labrax

Author

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Rank

Species

FAO code

BSS

Morphological description

Diagnosis: head with cycloid scales above; mouth moderately protractile (Ref. 231). Vomerine teeth only anteriorly (Ref. 231), in a crescentic band (Ref. 231, 57391). Scales on interorbital space cycloid (Ref. 57391). Posterior edge of opercle finely serrated, lower edge with strong forward- directed denticles (Ref. 231). 2 flat opercular spines (Ref. 231, 57391). Young with some dark spots on upper part of body (Ref. 231). Description: elongate fish with 2 separate dorsal fins and a rather deep caudal peduncle; lower preopercular margin with large, forward-pointing spines; vomerine teeth patch not extending to midline of palate; caudal fin moderately forked; scales small, those on interorbital space cycloid (Ref. 57391). Coloration: back silvery to greyish-blue, sides silvery, belly sometimes tinged with yellow; young individuals may have some black markings, particularly on back but these disappear in adults; a diffuse black spot at upper angle of opercle (Ref. 57391).

Taxonomic classification

ClassActinopterygii
- OrderPerciformes
  - FamilyMoronidae
    - GenusDicentrarchus
      - SpeciesDicentrarchus labrax

Synonyms

Labrax diacanthus (Bloch, 1792)
Morone labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)
Perca elongata Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817
Labrax elongatus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817)
Centropomus lupus Lacepède, 1802
Perca sinuosa Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817
Dicentrarchus elongatus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817)
Labrax labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)
Perca labrax Linnaeus, 1758
Labrax lupus (Lacepède, 1802)
Sciaena diacantha Bloch, 1792
Roccus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)
Dicentrarchus lupus (Lacepède, 1802)
Labrax linnei Malm, 1877
Labrax vulgaris Guérin-Méneville, 1829-38
Perca diacantha (Bloch, 1792)
Sciaena labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)
Centropomus mullus Lacepède, 1802

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)

An annually revised goods classification scheme used in EU for the purposes of customs duty and foreign trade statistics. The scheme is based on the Harmonized System nomenclature, further extended with Community subdivisions. Each subdivision is identified by an eight-digit numerical code. Read more: Combined Nomenclature

03 — CHAPTER 3 - FISH AND CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS AND OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
- 0302 — Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304
  - Other fish, excluding livers and roes
    - 0302 84 — Sea bass (Dicentrarchus spp.)
      - 0302 84 10 — European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
- 0303 — Fish, frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304
  - Other fish, excluding livers and roes
    - 0303 84 — Sea bass (Dicentrarchus spp.)
      - 0303 84 10 — European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

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Dicentrarchus labrax

Commercial designations

Main production methods

Main fishing gears

Gillnets and similar nets

Hooks and lines

Seines

Trawls

Minimum conservation reference sizes

Habitat

FAO major fishing areas

Area 1 - Africa - Inland waters

Area 27 - Atlantic, Northeast

Area 34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central

Area 37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea

Area 4 - Asia - Inland waters

Area 5 - Europe - Inland waters

Distribution maps