DISTRIBUTION MAP

DISTRIBUTION

Present in the North-east Atlantic from the British Islands to North-west Africa. Also present in the Mediterranean Sea but rare in the Black Sea.

ECOLOGY

Demersal species commonly found in depths of about 30 m in marine waters of sandy/rocky bottoms and seagrass beds. It feeds mainly on bivalves and gastropods.

FISHERIES

Caught mainly using trammel and gill nets, beach seines, trawl nets, and hand lines. Majority found on sale are from aquaculture production.

DID YOU KNOW

The second part of the binomial scientific name, aurata, derives from the gold bar marking between its eyes.