Meagre

Biology

The meagre is a fish with a long narrow body, almost spindle-shaped (fusiform), that lives on sandy bottoms up to 200 metres deep. It has a very distinctive lateral line, extending all the way to the caudal fin. This sensory organ detects vibrations in the water. Fishes use the lateral line for prey detection, predator avoidance, schooling behaviour, and for communication.

Conservation

Throughout its distribution area, the meagre is a target of commercial fishing; to assure the continuity of this species fishing must be sustainable, respecting minimum legal sizes.

Curiosities

Meagres migrate to estuaries at the end of May in order to spawn. During the spawning season, males produce a typical sound, by pushing their abdominal muscles against the gas bladder.