Brown Meagre
Sciaena umbra
The Brown Meagre, which is also widely known as the Corvina or the Corb, is one of the most recognisable, elegant, and discreet fish living on the rocky seabeds of the Mediterranean. It belongs to the Sciaenidae family, which also includes the Shi Drum, but it differs significantly from it. The body is high and compressed with a strongly curved back that forms a characteristic hump, while the belly remains straight. Its colour is dark brown, golden, or bronze, with intense copper reflections that resemble velvet, making it invisible in the dim light of caves.
Its fins have a characteristic yellow colour with black edges, while the lower part of the tail and the pelvic fins are often pitch black. The tail has a straight edge and is not forked. A special anatomical feature is the very large ear stones, or otoliths, located in its head. These are hard, white, bony spheres that look like pearls, while they help the fish with hearing and balance, and are often collected by fishers as charms.
Habitat
This is a purely benthic species that loves dark and quiet places. It lives almost exclusively on rocky bottoms with intense relief and prefers areas with many caves and crevices, as well as shelters and single rocks where it can hide. It is encountered in shallow waters usually from 5 to 30 metres, although it can descend to 100 metres deep or be found within Posidonia seagrass meadows. It is a fish with calm, lethargic behaviour that spends its day hovering almost motionless inside or near the entrance of its nest, often in small groups.
Diet
The species is a nocturnal predator. It remains inactive and hidden during the day, leaving its shelter as soon as darkness falls to feed. Its diet consists mainly of small benthic crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs, along with small fish and molluscs that it finds near the bottom.
Reproduction
Reproduction of the Brown Meagre takes place during the warm months of the year, usually from March until August. It is one of the most talkative fish of the sea because the males produce loud sounds that look like drum beats by contracting special muscles over their swim bladder to attract females and define their territory.
Fisheries
It is caught mainly with set nets and longlines, and also with handlines near rocks. For underwater fishers, it is an easy target due to its calm, slow movement and habit of standing still and fearless outside its hole, which has led to a significant decline in its population in shallow waters. The meat is of exceptional quality, white, with enough fat, very delicious, ideal for grilling or soup, and of high commercial value.
Research
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and regional bodies classify the Brown Meagre as Vulnerable in many areas of the Mediterranean due to overfishing and easy hunting. Scientific studies have shown that it is a species with slow growth and a long lifespan that can exceed 20 years, making the rapid recovery of its stocks difficult. It has also been observed that, in protected marine areas, its populations recover spectacularly, and the fish become larger and less afraid.