(Common) Bream Abramis brama

The Bream, called the Common or Bronze Bream to differentiate between other freshwater bream species (and, of course, totally different from the sea breams) is a deep-bodied fish with a small head and a long anal fin. The juvenile is silver (and similar to the Silver Bream) but the adult is a bronze or brown, with dark fins.

It is native to ponds, lakes and slow-moving canals/rivers of northern and central Europe through to Central Asia. It feeds on invertebrates, shellfish and plants on the floor of rivers/lakes and can tolerate lower oxygen levels than some other fish.

It grows typically to 30-60cm. Despite there being other freshwater breams native to Europe (Blue, Silver), it is now the only species in its genus. It hybridises easily, especially with Roach.