European sea bass
Dicentrarchus labrax
IUCN Status:Near Threatened
Where can they be found?
Most common in south and west.
Please note: this map is intended as a guide for general locations rather than detailed localised populations.
Did you know... They take 5–8 years to reach sexual maturity, which makes them vulnerable to overfishing
Key facts about European sea basss
Long and agile, sea bass are sleek hunters, often prowling the shallow coastal waters and estuaries around the UK. They range widely across the North-East Atlantic, from the Shetland Isles down through the English Channel, entering shallower waters in spring and summer, then moving offshore to spawn in winter.
Once so abundant that they were staples on European menus, sea bass still enjoy high culinary popularity under various names—“branzino” in Italy, “loup de mer” in France, and “spigola” in parts of Southern Europe.
Between December and March, the Bay of Biscay serves as key spawning grounds for sea bass. However, fishing vessels targeting bass during spawning inadvertently capture thousands of common dolphins each year.
| IUCN status | Near Threatened |
|---|---|
| Age | A relatively long fish with a relatively long life span - the European sea bass can live between 20-30 years. |
| Diet | Sea bass enjoy a balanced diet of sandeels, crustaceans, molluscs and worms. Sometimes, they'll even eat smaller bass - yikes! |
| Habitat | Subtidal |
| Length | 50-85cm |
| Speed and distance | European sea bass can travel quite significant distances, especially when travelling between inshore feeding grounds to offshore spawning grounds. They can swim at speeds of around 4mph, but can have short bursts of around 10mph. |
| Weight | 12kg |
