Garfish

Also known as Needlefish, Garpike or Fish Needle - 

Scientific name - Belone belone

Conservation status

Garfish sustainability varies around the world but in the UK they are considered plentiful and of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Although edible for humans the fact that they have green bones often puts people off eating them as they think the fish is diseased or gone bad.

Garfish are a common species around the south and west of the British Isles. They are a popular species for anglers to target as their fighting spirit provides extra ‘sport’. They are very common in the Mediterranean and down the North African coast.

Overview

Garfish are easy to recognise because of their extremely thin elongated body. They have a pale underside, and their back and flanks are blue to green. They grow to about 50 to 75 cm and live for around 10 to 20 years.

Garfish are a pelagic fish living close to the water surface. They eat small fish such as Atlantic herring, sprats and sand eels. They are preyed on by larger fish, humans and sometimes birds such as Ospreys.

Sources

IUCN - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/198573/18471480

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfish

British sea fishing - https://britishseafishing.co.uk/garfish/