Gilthead Seabream

Biology and habitat

Species description
Gilthead seabream belongs to the family of Sparidae.

Geographical distribution and habitat
Gilthead seabream lives in the Northeast and Eastern Central Atlantic, in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea as well as in Europe inland waters (i.e. coastal lagoons and saltwater ponds).

Resource, exploitation and management

Stock and resource status/conservation measures
Minimum conservation reference size is established at 20 cm in the Mediterranean fishing areas (i.e. fishing areas Western Meidterranean (37.1), Central Mediterranean (37.2) and Eastern Mediterranean (37.3)).

Production methods and fishing gears
The main fishing gears used are gillnets and similar nets, hooks and lines, pots and traps, seines and trawls. The species is also massively produced in aquaculture, mostly in sea cages.

Source: Information system on commercial designations

Catches

Evolution of world catches

• Global seabream catches was estimated at 9.074 tonnes in 2023, i.e. 0,01% of total global catches.
• Main producers were the EU-27, Egypt, Mauritania and Tunisia. They contributed to 85% of the global production. The production peaked in 2021, driven by the increase of the Mauritanian production before decreasing again in 2022 and 2023.

Source: FAO

Evolution of EU catches
The EU provided 38% of the global seabream catches in 2023, reaching more than 3.400 tonnes. Main EU producers were France, Greece, Italy, and Spain (they together contributed to 87% of EU catches).

Source: FAO

Aquaculture production

Evolution of world production
More than 341.000 tonnes of gilthead seabream were produced globally in 2023. The world production of gilthead seabream has more than doubled in the last ten years (112% from 2014 to 2023). The growth was particularly significant for non-EU countries, mainly Turkey and Egypt (by 268% and 157% respectively).

Source: FAO

Evolution of EU production
In 2023, the EU provided 31% of the global production of gilthead seabream. Greece was by far the main producer (with 62% of the total EU production). 
The EU production has increased by 22% over the last decade (2014-2023), driven the developement of the Greek production, which peaked in 2022, before decreasing in 2023.

Source: FAO

Processing

There is no significant processing activity of gilthead seabream as the species is mainly consumed fresh.

Trade

EU imports-exports (2024, EU-27)

Combined nomenclature 

EU trade of gilthead products (tonnes - 2024)

• Extra-EU imports of gilthead seabream reached over 44.800 tonnes in 2024, mostly fresh (98% of EU imports in 2024). Main importers were Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain (33%, 23%, 12% and 12% respectively). Turkey was by far the main supplier of the EU market (88% of the EU imports). Almost all fresh gilthead seabream came from Turkey. Imports from Turkey reached a peack in 2021 and decreased in 2022 (by 12% between 2021 and 2022). Overall they have increased by 118% between 2015 and 2024. 
• Extra-EU exports of gilthead seabream reached over 8.500 tonnes in 2024, almost all fresh. Main exporters were Greece and Cyprus, and main destinations were Israel and Switzerland (54% and 13% respectivley).

Source: EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance

EU supply balance (2023) – Tonnes of live weight equivalent – Gilthead seabream:

Source: FAO/ EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance is provided for the year 2023 (trade data for 2023 were taken into account). Detailed trade data provided in the slide 5 concern the year 2024
The conversion factors were used to convert net weight of imports and exports of fishery and aquaculture products into live weight equivalents.

Prices along the supply chain (EUR/kg)

When data is available, prices are provided for wild and farmed seabream, as significant price difference could be noticed between the two methods of production. 

First-sale (wild) / Ex-farm (farmed) – fresh
First-sale and ex-farm prices are provided for France, Greece, Croatia, Italy and Spain, which are among the main EU producers of seabream.

(*) From January to September 2025

Wholesale (fresh)
Wholesale prices are presented for France and Spain.

(*) From January to September 2025

Retail/consumption (fresh)
Retail prices refer to Greece, Spain, and Italy, which are among the major EU consumers of seabream.

(*) From January to October 2025

Extra-EU import (fresh from Turkey)
Import prices are provided for Italy, Greece, Spain, and Netherlands which are the main importers of fresh seabream from Turkey.

(*) From January to September 2025

Extra-EU export (fresh)
Export prices refer to Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and France, as they were the main exporters of seabream to third countries in 2024.

(*) From January to September 2025

Marketing

National lists of commercial designations

Information system on commercial designations and scientific names in all EU languages

Applicable marketing standard

Consumption

Gilthead seabream is the 15th most consumed species in the EU (source: The EU Fish Market – 2025 edition, EUMOFA

Apparent consumption per capita of gilthead seabream in 2023: 0,33 kg live weight equivalent (source: Supply balance - 2023, EUMOFA).

Nutritional value (Gilthead seabream, France, fresh fillet, values per 100 g – source : NUTRAQUA/AQUIMER)