Conger eel

The Conger eel is found abundant in our waters and is native to Cyprus. Its length usually ranges from 50 to 150 centimeters, although it can reach up to 3 meters. The species reproduces during the summer months and is rarely targeted, usually caught using static nets, longlines, and bottom trawls although due to its looks and requirement of a special way of cooking it is avoided by fishers. 

It is a benthic species and lives in areas with rocky, hole-filled seabeds, as well as in sandy areas. It can be found at depths ranging from 0 to 500 meters. Juveniles of the species are most often found in shallow coastal waters, while they move to deeper waters as they mature. The Conger eel is a nocturnal hunter that feeds on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. 

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. 

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.