The meagre, scientifically known as Argyrosomus regius, is a demersal fish inhabiting oceanic regions, often found in coastal waters and on the continental shelf in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. However, it's not commonly found in Greek seas. These fish typically exhibit a grey-silver hue with bronze dorsal fins, featuring prominent silver spots along their lateral line. Meagres usually grow to about one and a half metres in length, with the largest specimens reaching lengths of up to 2.3 metres and weighing over 100 kg. They are harvested for human consumption, particularly in the Mediterranean region, and are increasingly being bred in fish farms.

Meagre reproduction occurs between April and July near the estuaries of major rivers. During spawning, male individuals produce remarkable audible love calls by contracting the muscles surrounding the swim bladder. Legend has it that fishermen of yore could detect the presence of meagres through these sounds. They would place one end of their oar in the water and the other to their ear, attuning themselves to the distinctive calls echoing beneath the surface.

Photos: By Theano Dandari

You can observe meagres in the tanks at the Aquarium of Crete.