Depth
Brama · Bony Fish

Atlantic Pomfret

Brama brama

0-1000m
Depth Range
70cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-1000m
Depth Range
70cm
Max Size
Pelagic
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Schooling
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Rare
Sighting Likelihood
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Genus Brama
Species brama

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationDeep, oval body that is strongly compressed laterally. Dark grey to black in adults, with a lighter belly. Large eyes and a small mouth. Single long dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail.
  • SizeUp to 70 cm total length, commonly 30 to 50 cm.
  • Social HabitUsually solitary or in very small groups. A deep-water pelagic species.
  • HabitatOpen ocean, mesopelagic to epipelagic zone. Found over deep water far from shore.
  • Depth100 to 1,000 m, occasionally shallower at night.
  • Feeds OnSmall fish, squid, and crustaceans caught in the open water column.
  • DistributionWorldwide in temperate and subtropical seas, including the Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionA secretive open-ocean fish that is rarely seen by divers. The Atlantic pomfret has a compressed, disc-like body and large eyes suited to its dimly lit midwater habitat. It is occasionally caught by longline fisheries but remains poorly understood.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Primarily an oceanic species inhabiting open pelagic waters from the surface to depths exceeding 1000 metres. In the Mediterranean, it is most often encountered in deep offshore waters, particularly around seamounts and steep drop-offs where upwelling concentrates prey.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

Loading…

Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Prefers temperate to subtropical open ocean environments, often associated with deep-water current boundaries where small fish and squid congregate. Occasionally found closer to shore during seasonal migrations.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Atlantic Pomfret species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

An active predator that hunts small fish, squid and crustaceans in mid-water, often feeding at night when prey migrates towards the surface.

Nocturnal Hunter

Reproduction

Spawns in open water during spring and summer. Eggs and larvae are pelagic, drifting with ocean currents before juveniles settle into deeper habitats.

Pelagic Spawner

Behaviour & Defence

Relies on speed and schooling behaviour to evade predators in open water. The dark dorsal colouration provides camouflage when viewed from above against the deep ocean.

Speed & Schooling

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Brama brama may be encountered will be added as sighting data is collected.

IUCN Red List Least Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes.

Source: IUCN Red List
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide