Saddled Seabream
Oblada melanura
The Saddled Seabream is one of the most common and recognisable fish of the Sparidae family in regional waters. It is a beautiful and very fast fish that lives in schools. Its name derives from the ancient Greek words for "black" and "tail," describing its most characteristic feature. This involves a large, bold black spot on the base of the tail, surrounded by a bright white ring to make it visible from a distance.
The body is oval but more elongated and athletic than that of its relatives, such as the White Seabream. The colour is silver grey with a light blue tint on the back and subtle dark horizontal lines on the sides. Its eyes are quite large, which indicates that it is also active at night.
Habitat
This is a coastal benthopelagic species, which means it lives and moves above the seabed in midwaters rather than resting on the bottom. It forms large, mobile schools that patrol near the coast, from the surface down to 40 metres. It prefers rocky bottoms and mixed ground consisting of rock and sand, along with areas where rocks meet, and Posidonia seagrass meadows, where it finds safety and food.
Diet
It is an omnivorous and opportunistic fish with a large appetite. The diet is varied and includes small invertebrates such as copepods, shrimp, and larvae that it finds while swimming. It also consumes plant organisms, such as seaweed and algae, that it grazes from the rocks. It is also known to rush greedily toward anything edible that falls into the water, like bread or bait.
Reproduction
Breeding takes place during the spring and early summer, usually from April to June. During this period, the schools move closer to the shore. It is a gonochoristic species where sexes are separate from birth, and they do not change sex during their lives, although rare cases of hermaphroditism have been recorded.
Fisheries
It represents one of the most popular catches in the Mediterranean. It is caught professionally with nets, purse seines, and trawls. For recreational fishers, it is a favourite target, with many techniques, including rod-and-line from the shore and boat, handlines, and surface trolling with small lures. The meat is of exceptional quality, white, firm, and very delicious, especially when grilled over charcoal, and it has high commercial value.
Research
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Saddled Seabream as a species of Least Concern because populations are stable and abundant. Scientific studies have shown that it has great ecological importance as a link between plankton and larger predators. Research on its behaviour has shown that it is extremely intelligent and learns to avoid fishing gear, and that it can travel long distances along the coastline.