Red Porgy

Biology

The red porgy has a silvery pink colour with blue spots through its body. It occupies different territories depending on if it is a juvenile or an adult. The young tend to live in shallow waters and soft bottoms, while the older ones prefer rocky bottoms and deeper waters. It feeds on crustaceans, fish and molluscs.

Conservation

This fish is of high economic interest in many parts of its range. In Morocco it is one of the most important species in fishery activity and, in the Azores, it comes in second place in that activity. The overexploitation of the species in those and other areas had a negative effect on its populations.

Curiosities

It has a very interesting life history: it is born female and, when it is three years old, it can change into a functional male.