Marbled spinefoot

The Marbled spinefoot is a Lessepsian migrant found abundant in Cypriot waters and its spawning takes place from April to August. It is fished with rods, static nets, especially trammel nets, traps and spearfishing. Its length can exceed 40 centimeters, but rarely exceeds 25 centimeters.

It is a benthic species and is found mainly in areas with seagrass beds of Posidonia oceanica.  It reaches sexual maturity at about 2 years of age, when it is around 14 centimeters long. It is an exclusively herbivorous species, feeding on seaweed and algae. 

As an invasive species it is associated with negative biodiversity impacts due to overgrazing, so consumption is recommended to control its numbers. But, conversely, trammel nets targeting spinefoots in Cyprus have long soak durations are a leading cause of green turtle mortality as bycatch which is of serious concern.

It is recommended to ask your fisher or fishmonger where the fish was caught and with which fishing method. Choose locally harvested spinefoots caught by coastal small-scale fisheries, especially those using target-specific traps, or gillnets rather than trammel nets. Avoid fish caught in trammel nets unless fishers can demonstrate low soak durations (less than 5 hours), or that they collaborate with conservation groups on best handling practices for vulnerable species and bycatch reduction.