Overview
It is generally found inshore near the surf zone and is somewhat tolerant of fresh water, like its close North American relative, the striped bass (Morone saxatilis). In behavior and appearance the two species are very much alike. The European bass lacks the stripes that characterize M. saxatilis, but their body shapes are very similar.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Moronidae
- Genus
- Dicentrarchus
- Species
- labrax/ Morone labrax.
Habitat
The European bass, known simply as the “bass” in Europe, is a warm and temperate water marine species that is relatively restricted to the European coast from England to northern Africa and the Mediterranean and Black Sea. It is generally found inshore near the surf zone and is somewhat tolerant of fresh water, like its close North American relative, the striped bass (Morone saxatilis). In behavior and appearance the two species are very much alike. The European bass lacks the stripes that characterize M. saxatilis, but their body shapes are very similar.
Diet
It is mostly a night hunter, feeding on small fish, polychaetes, cephalopods, and crustaceans.
Behavior
The females are sexually mature at five to eight years and males at two to four years. At this point, these fish will begin spawning, laying their small pelagic eggs near river mouths and estuaries or in saltier tidal areas. There is only one spawning season per year, which generally takes place in winter in the Mediterranean populations and up to June in Atlantic populations.
Fishing
In late October or November, when the surf begins to cool, European bass migrate out to sea, returning when the water begins to warm between February and May. It is considered by many British sea anglers to be the best of all European game fish species. European sea bass meat is pinkish when raw and cooks up opaque white.The finely textured, flaky meat is lean, with a sweet and mild flavor. Many chefs say the wild-caught bass is more flavorful than the farmed product.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern. by IUCN.