The sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo (Walbaum, 1792), is a demersal sparid that has recently established populations in the Black Sea, where the basin represents the northern margin of its known distribution. This study documents a new maximum size record for D. puntazzo in the Black Sea and provides an additional observation on its autumn feeding ecology. On 29 November 2025, a single female specimen was captured by spearfishing at 14 m depth over rocky substrate off Yomra, Trabzon, in the southeastern Black Sea. The specimen measured 47.6 cm in total length and weighed 1,452.0 g, exceeding the previously reported regional maximum total length of 45.4 cm and maximum body weight of 1,186.5 g. Although the increase in length was moderate, the substantially greater body weight may be partly associated with the specimen’s greater maximum body depth, rather than reproductive condition, as the gonads were not macroscopically prominent at the time of capture. Stomach content examination revealed only macroalgae, identified as Ulva rigida and Ceramium spp., indicating recent macroalgal ingestion during late autumn. This finding contrasts with previous summer observations of D. puntazzo feeding on egg capsules of the invasive veined rapa whelk, Rapana venosa, in the same region and may reflect seasonal dietary flexibility. The capture of a record-sized individual by spearfishing further suggests that large specimens encountered in recreational fisheries may be insufficiently represented in conventional fishery records; however, this inference remains preliminary due to the opportunistic nature of the observation and the single-specimen basis of the study. Overall, this record extends the known maximum size of D. puntazzo in the Black Sea and provides a useful biological reference for future studies on growth potential, trophic ecology, habitat use, and fishery interactions of this increasingly relevant sparid in the region.

Black Sea, feeding ecology, maximum size, recreational fisheries, spearfishing, Trabzon

The sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo (Walbaum, 1792), is a commercially valuable demersal sparid distributed from the Bay of Biscay to the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea (Whitehead et al. 1986; Russell et al. 2014; Froese and Pauly 2024). Although the species has historically been more abundant in the Mediterranean, it has also shown northward expansion in the Atlantic, possibly in response to rising water temperatures (Vinagre et al. 2010). Its tolerance of broad thermal conditions (15–29 °C) and relative resistance to variation in oxygen availability may facilitate persistence under the variable environmental conditions of the Black Sea (Cerezo and García García 2004). In recent decades, D. puntazzo has been reported from both the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, suggesting an ability to persist under local environmental conditions (Russell et al. 2014; Daban et al. 2024).

Ecologically, D. puntazzo is typically associated with rocky substrates and seagrass beds at depths of 0–150 m, although it is most commonly encountered in the shallow infralittoral zone down to 60 m (Russell et al. 2014; Froese and Pauly 2024). Unlike some other sparids, such as D. sargus, which feed predominantly on benthic invertebrates (Bertolino et al. 2024), D. puntazzo is an omnivorous species with a digestive system well adapted to herbivory (Chaouch et al. 2013). Previous observations also indicate considerable dietary flexibility. For example, in the southeastern Black Sea, the species has been reported to feed opportunistically on the egg capsules of the invasive veined rapa whelk, Rapana venosa, during summer (Aydın and Sağlam 2019).

Maximum body size is an important biological parameter in fisheries science because it contributes to growth modeling, life-history assessment, and stock evaluation. Although D. puntazzo may reach 60 cm in total length (L_T) (Froese and Pauly 2024) and live up to 10–18 years (Domínguez-Seoane et al. 2006; Kraljević et al. 2007), individuals exceeding 40 cm appear to be uncommon in the Black Sea. Previous regional records include specimens measuring 41.6 cm and 1,007.2 g from Hopa (Aydın and Sağlam 2019), 45.4 cm and 1,186.5 g from Ordu (Aydın 2019), and 44.5 cm and 1,186.5 g from a broader Black Sea morphometric study (Karadurmuş and Aydın 2022). Despite the species’ increasing relevance in regional fisheries, as reflected by its inclusion in national fishery statistics (TÜİK 2025), biological information on large adults from the Black Sea remains limited. Documenting rare, large individuals is therefore valuable for improving regional knowledge of the species’ growth potential, particularly given the relationship between maximum length and fish population dynamics (Binohlan and Froese 2009).

The present study reports a new maximum size record for D. puntazzo from the Black Sea. The morphometric characteristics of a large female specimen captured off Yomra, Trabzon, are described, and its stomach contents are examined to provide an additional observation on the feeding ecology of the species in the region.

On 29 November 2025, a single female D. puntazzo specimen was collected off Yomra, Trabzon, in the southeastern Black Sea (Fig. 1). The fish was captured by a diver using a speargun at a depth of 14 m over rocky substrate.

Figure 1. 

Map showing the capture locality of the present sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo (Walbaum, 1792), specimen and previously published record localities across the Mediterranean basin and Black Sea. The numbered locations correspond to the following sources: (1) this study; (2) Aydın (2019); (3) Aydın and Sağlam (2019); (4) Öztekin et al. (2016); (5) Altın et al. (2015); (6) Özaydın et al. (2007); (7) Kapiris and Klaoudatos (2011); (8) Kraljević et al. (2007); (9) Morey et al. (2003); and (10) Chaouch et al. (2013). Basemap: Esri World Topographic Map (vector tile layer); data providers include TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, and USGS (Esri 2026).

Immediately after capture, the specimen was transported to the laboratory on ice. Total body weight was measured using a precision electronic balance (± 0.01 g). High-resolution lateral photographs were taken with a scale reference using a Canon EOS R50 camera equipped with an 18–45 mm lens for subsequent morphometric analysis.

Morphometric measurements were extracted digitally from photographs using ImageJ software (Rueden et al. 2017), following the measurement protocol and landmark definitions described by Aydın (2019). To verify measurement accuracy, L_T, fork length (L_F), and standard length (L_S) were recorded both manually (± 0.1 cm) and digitally in ImageJ; the two methods showed close agreement, with differences within ± 0.1 cm. Taxonomic identification of the specimen was performed according to Nelson et al. (2016). Sex was determined by macroscopic examination of the gonads. The stomach was then removed, and its contents were examined macroscopically to determine recent dietary composition.

The present study updates the maximum recorded length and weight of D. puntazzo in the Black Sea to 47.6 cm L_T and 1,452.0, respectively. In addition, stomach content analysis indicated recent macroalgal ingestion in late autumn, providing an additional observation consistent with possible seasonal dietary flexibility in the region. Together, these findings expand the available biological information on D. puntazzo in the Black Sea. This record confirms that large adult individuals of D. puntazzo occur in the southeastern Black Sea and provides a useful reference point for future biological and fisheries studies. Further research integrating age, growth, feeding ecology, habitat use, and fishery-interaction data will help clarify the ecological role and fishery relevance of this species in the region.