Picarel

Picarel is native and abundant in our waters and is fished from November to May using bottom trawling and gillnets. It usually ranges from 7 to 15 centimeters, although during the breeding season males reach around 20 centimeters.

It is a semi-pelagic species and is found, primarily, in areas with dense vegetation, as well as on sandy-muddy substrates. It is a very active fish during the day and moves throughout the water column. It feeds on planktonic organisms and small invertebrates. The Picarel is a hermaphroditic fish and exhibits protogynous behavior, as it initially matures as a female and later, usually at the age of 2 years, changes to a male.

Bottom trawling is one of the most harmful ways to fish in our seas, as it drags heavy gear across the seabed, damaging all kinds of habitats, killing benthic life and leading to high catches of non-targeted species. In the southern part of Cyprus there is a restriction for trawling during the 16th of February and the 31st of May, and in the northern part bottom trawling is altogether banned. Gillnets, used to target picarels in Cyprus, are usually small mesh size and with short soak duration, resulting in very low catches of non-target species and thus have a low ecological impact. Picarels are relatively cheap yet delicious and very healthy. By valorising them you can contribute to sustainable fishing.

It is recommended to ask your fisher or fishmonger where the fish was caught and with which fishing method, as well as buying this species outside of its spawning period. Prefer locally harvested seafood products by coastal small-scale fisheries.