British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Glossary - Gilt-head Bream - definition

Translation:

Gilt-Head Bream are rarely seen in the UK but are common in the Mediterranean. They have a thick-set body with small eyes and a dark spot on the gill cover. These fish have a distinctive golden marking between the eyes, which is how they got the name 'Gilt-Head Bream'. The dorsal fin on its back has 11 robust spines, while a smaller fin on the underside has 3 spines. The Gilt-Head Bream has a powerful set of front teeth with rows of rounded, blunt teeth behind them. Its back is darker in colour, fading to silver along its sides.

Measuring up to 70cm in length and weighing up to 17.2kg, adults can live at depths of up to 100 metres, but many live in shallower water. Gilt-Head Bream are 'Demersal' fish which means they feed on, or near, the bottom of the sea. They eat crabs, prawns, shellfish seaweed and dead organic matter.

In 2009 their Conservation Status showed 'no significant concern', but since then they have become a popular food in restaurants and supermarkets, making them vulnerable to overfishing.