Traditionally, gilthead seabream were cultured extensively in coastal lagoons and brackish ponds, particularly in valliculture in northern Italy and in esteros in southern Spain. In the 1980s, however, gilthead seabream were reproduced successfully in captivity and intensive rearing systems were developed, especially in sea cages. Gilthead seabream, whose name refers to a golden band on its head, has become one of European aquaculture’s main fish species.
Latin name – Sparus aurata
Taxonomic Code: 1703923508
Production (EU-27) – 84 590 t (2007); 67 % of global production.
Value (EU-27) – EUR 363 million (2007).
Main EU producer countries – Greece, Spain, Italy.
Main producer countries worldwide – Greece, Turkey, Spain.
Local Names
ALBANIA : Koce
ALGERIA : Aura
DENMARK : Guldbraxen
EGYPT : Denis
FINLAND : Kultaotsa-ahven
FRANCE : Daurade, Dorade, Dorade royal
GERMANY : Goldbrasse
ITALY : Orata
LEBANON : Ajâj
MALTA : Orata
MAURITANIA : Daurade royale, N'tad, Zapata morisca
NETHERLANDS : Goud brasem
NEW ZEALAND : Snapper, Tamure
POLAND : Dorada
PORTUGAL : Dourada, Douradinha, Safata
ROMANIA : Dorada
SPAIN : Chaparreta, Daurada, Dorada, Dourada, Orada
SWEDEN : Guldbrasse
TUNISIA : Gerraf
TURKEY : Cipura
UNITED KINGDOM : Gilt-head
YUGOSLAVIA : Komarca, Ovrata,
UNITED KINGDOM : Gilthead, Gilthead seabream
UNITED STATES : Gilt head bream, Gilthead bream
Diagnostic Features
Body oval, rather deep and compressed. Head profile regularly curved. Eye small. Mouth low, very slightly oblique. Lips thick. Four to 6 canine-like teeth anteriorly in each jaw, followed posteriorly by blunter teeth which become progressively molar-like and are arranged in 2 to 4 rows (teeth in the 2 outer rows stronger). Total gill rakers on first arch short, 11 to 13, 7 or 8 lower and 5 (rarely 4) to 6 upper. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 13 to 14 soft rays. Anal with 3 spines and 11 or 12 soft rays. Cheeks scaly, preopercle scaleless. Scales along lateral line 73 to 85. Color silvery grey; a large black blotch at origien of lateral line extending on upper margin of opercle where it is edged below by a reddish area; a golden frontal band between eyes edged by two dark areas (not well defined in young individuals); dark longitudinal lines often present on sides of body; a dark band on dorsal fin; fork and tips of caudal fin edged with black.
Habitat and Biology
Benthopelagic (demersal behavior).A coastal species, inhabiting seagrass beds, rocky and sandy bottoms as well as in the surf zone commonly to depths of about 30 m, but the adults may occur to 150 m depth.Euryhaline, entering brackish waters. A sedentary fish, solitary or forming small aggregations. A protandric hermaphrodite; the majority individuals are first males, then become females. Spawning occurs from October to December; maturity at 1-2 years (20-30 cm) for males, 2-3 years (33-40 cm) for females; do not spawn in Black Sea. Mainly carnivorous, (mollusks, particularly mussels which it can easily crush, crustaceans and fish); but accessorily herbivorous.
Market And Trade
As is the case with European seabass, the farming of gilthead seabream in the Mediterranean region is undergoing a transformation from being an industry of high margins and low volumes to one of low margins and high volumes. The rapid development of production in sea cages has led to declining prices; the ex-farm prices of both species decreased by approximately 60 percent between 1990 and 2000 and are still decreasing.
Although gilthead seabream ex-farm prices began to decrease between 1990 and 1995, they were still sufficient to interest investors and guaranteed a reasonable profit for farmers until 1998. However, in the last three years (2000-2003), the price of farmed gilthead seabream has collapsed; now the European market price is fluctuating around EUR 5.50/kg, for the 350 g size. At this level it is very difficult for farmers to make a fair profit.
Thus, at the moment, market conditions seem very far from those that pertained in the first half of the 1990s, but there are a few marketing strategies for rearing gilthead seabream profitably. One of these is the economies of scale (farming a lot of fish to reduce unit production costs). Alternatively, small production systems can increase the value of the product by producing low quantities of higher quality fish (e.g. organic fish) or by producing unconventional fish sizes, which can also be processed (e.g. filleted).
Status and trends
The conventional market for seabream has become saturated. For future growth, the Mediterranean aquaculture industry needs to emphasize the adoption of more sophisticated methods of marketing. This is a must for penetrating new markets, but it is also necessary for enlarging the existing ones. As well as improved marketing organization, product diversification could help the seabream aquaculture in the Mediterranean region. Seabream should not only be available as a commodity item but also as a value-added product. The development of alternative markets and value-added products is likely to lead to higher requirements for controlled and predictable quality, and for larger fish.
The export activity of the Greece aquaculture industry, which is the main producer of seabream, has an almost exclusive orientation towards the Italian market. Since 1994, a few exporters have tried hard to penetrate new markets. The outcome of those efforts has resulted in exports to new markets in the UK, Germany, and France (20-22 percent new markets in 1996, compared to 1994).
Main issues
The seabream industry could be described as a sector already entering its mature phase, but which still needs more efficient production systems and new technologies. These latter should take into account the need to minimize the potential impact of seabream aquaculture practices in coastal areas, such as:
Farm location and the impact of discharges of organic matters, phosphorus and nitrogen, which can cause eutrophication.
Farmed fish escapes that can lead to a number of problems, including dilution of the wild stock genetic pool through interbreeding, reduced wild stock fecundity, and changes in the structure of the food web.
Transfer of diseases parasites between farmed and wild fish.
Introduction of non-indigenous species that can act as 'pests' in local communities.
FAO. © 2006-2011. Aquaculture topics and activities. Aquaculture. In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department [online]. Rome. Updated 18 July 2011. [Cited 12 September 2011]. http://www.fao.org/fishery/aquaculture/en
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/marine_species/farmed_fish_and_shellfish/seabream/index_en.htm