grazes near the harbour wharf piles
- Size
- Length: 30–50 cm, Weight: 1–3 kg
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Carnivorous – feeds on small crustaceans worms and bivalves. Uses strong molar-like teeth to crush shells. Forages over sandy bottoms and seagrass beds at dawn and dusk.
- Habitat
- Sandy and rocky bottoms in shallow coastal waters harbours and estuaries from 5 to 50 metres depth. Prefers areas with seagrass beds and rocky outcrops near wharves.
- Range
- Found in coastal waters of North Island from Northland to Wellington. Most common in harbours estuaries and rocky bays. Also found throughout Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean.
- Endemism
- Introduced
- Main Threats
- Recreational overfishing is primary threat. Also threatened by habitat loss from coastal development water quality degradation in estuaries and climate change affecting shallow nursery habitats.
- Population
- Populations established in New Zealand waters following introduction. Species is popular target for recreational fishers in northern harbours. Size and bag limits apply to manage recreational take.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- introduced sport fish, harmless to humans, leave undisturbed
- Conservation Note
- Introduced marine fish; commercially farmed and managed under fisheries regulations.
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition Tamure was the name for the native snapper. The gilthead sea bream has taken this name in New Zealand waters. This reflects its similar appearance and habitat. The species was introduced probably from aquaculture escapes. It is now established in northern harbours. It is a new addition to the New Zealand fish fauna. It serves as a reminder that the oceans are changing. New species are arriving. Mana whenua observe these shifts in coastal ecosystems.
Named for the distinctive gold bar between its eyes. It is a fish that wears a crown. The body is compressed and oval-shaped. It has a large head and a terminal mouth. The teeth are strong and molar-like. They are adapted for crushing shells. The colour is a silvery grey. A distinctive gold bar sits between the eyes. The fins are dusky. The scales are large and rough. It looks like it belongs in the Mediterranean.
Its strong molar-like teeth are adapted for crushing shellfish. In New Zealand it shares the Māori name Tamure with the native snapper. This reflects their similar appearance and habitat. It was introduced to New Zealand waters. It is now established in northern harbours. Its firm white flesh is highly regarded by recreational fishers. A fish that came from somewhere else.
It is a bottom-feeder. It forages over sandy bottoms and seagrass beds. It uses its strong teeth to crush shellfish. It swallows the crushed shells and all. It feeds most actively during dawn and dusk. A fish that crunches its food. It is a popular target for recreational fishers in northern harbours. It is caught on baited hooks. Often this happens from wharves and rocky shorelines. Size and bag limits apply to manage recreational take.
It was introduced to New Zealand waters. This probably happened from aquaculture escapes. It is now established in northern harbours. This extends from Northland to Wellington. It is a new addition to the New Zealand fish fauna.
To see one is to see a fish that does not belong. It is a Mediterranean fish living in New Zealand waters. The harbour is warm. The bream swims gold bar flashing. It crushes shells that did not evolve with it. It does not know it is an immigrant. It does not know it does not belong.
It just eats. That is what fish do.
The gold bar glints in the murky harbour water. The bream ignores the boats. It ignores the swimmers. It focuses on the shellfish. The crunch is audible if you listen closely. The sound of adaptation. The sound of arrival. The sound of a new normal. The bream carries on. It does not ask permission. It does not need it. The harbour is its home now. Whether we like it or not.