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Salema
Sarpa salpa
42.641, 18.1034
Field Notes
Description:
A species of sea-bream, Salema is also known as Salema porgy , cow bream or goldline, and, apparently since 10 years or so, as Dreamfish (to which a rather controversial stories persist). So, this sea-bream is about 30 cm long or even longer (max 50cm), with silvery-colored body and golden-yellow horizontal stripes on sides.
Habitat:
Found in Mediterranean sea and East Atlantic, this sea-bream is probably the commonest one seen close to rocky shores in Adriatic sea, everywhere in Croatia. Adults, they feed exclusively on algae and this vegetarian diet is probably the reason for the name "Cow-bream".
Notes:
Some 10 or so years ago, I first heard a story of "Dreamfish", or a fish, that when eaten, can induce some hallucinogenic effects, effects similar to those of LSD... Reportedly, Sarpa salpa caught in Mediterranean waters was to blame, but some authors think this sea-bream diet is to blame, or that some algae (very rare ones) or seagrass they commonly eat, would infiltrate their meat and produce these effects when the fish is consumed. Well... In Croatia, this sea-bream is commonly consumed everywhere, but not particularly appreciated, not considered as exceptional - except in some Southern islands, where this fish can be very expensive... (maybe these islands have hidden plantations of above-mentioned algae???)
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