Bream

Deep-bodied with a high back and flattened sides. The head is comparatively small, with the mouth ventral and extending into a tube when feeding. Eyes small. Scales are small with 51-60 scales in the lateral line. Anal fin origin is beneath the rear end of the dorsal fin; its base is long, with 24-30 branched rays and its outline is strongly concave. Pharyngeal teeth 5:5, the teeth long and compressed. Colour dark brown or greyish on the back; adults have golden brown sides, the young have silver, and are ventrally yellowish. The fins are grey or light brown, those underneath being reddish tinted.

European lakes and rivers (excluding Iberian, Italic and Balkan peninsulas and part Skandinavian peninsula); it also occurs in the brackish areas of the Baltic Sea.

An average length of 40 to 51 cm and a weight of 3.6 kg is attained; exceptionally a length of 80 cm and 9 kg in weight.

Occurs usually in still and slow-running waters where it travels in large shoals.Using its protusible mouth to pick up insect larvae, worms, and molluscs. Bream spawn in late spring and early summer among dense vegetation, often in shallow water and at night. The yellowish eggs stick to the weeds, and hatch in 3-12 days, depending on temperature. Can survive out of the water for extended periods.

In Europe this is a commercially important food-fish. It is also a valuable fish for anglers, although all too frequently expected to grow well and provide sport in unsuitable habitats. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 48 070 t. The countries with the largest catches were Russian Federation (25 687 t) and Kazakhstan (10 900 t). Marketed fresh or frozen. Eaten steamed, broiled, fried and baked.