Fish
Ballan Wrasse
Labrus bergylta
Among the kelp of a rocky Atlantic shore, a ballan wrasse noses along the stones, turning over shells that its throat teeth will soon crush.
Overview
The ballan wrasse, Labrus bergylta, is a Least Concern fish of rocky shores, kelp forests, and reefs across the north-eastern Atlantic. Its size, thick lips, shellfish diet, and sex change make it the best-known of the wrasses around Britain and Ireland.
A fish that works as a cleaner
Ballan wrasse are now put into salmon farm pens to pick the sea lice off the fish, one of the best-known examples of a wild fish being used for biological pest control.
Status
Least Concern, though slow growth makes it vulnerable to local fishing.
Ballan Wrasse: common questions
How big is the ballan wrasse?
It is the largest wrasse in north-eastern Atlantic waters, often 30 to 50 cm long.
Does the ballan wrasse change sex?
Yes, it is born female and later changes into a male, so the biggest fish are mostly males.
What does the ballan wrasse eat?
It eats crabs, shrimps, snails, mussels, and other shellfish, which it crushes with strong teeth in its throat.
Where is the ballan wrasse found?
It lives on rocky shores, in kelp forests, and on reefs in the north-eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Morocco.