Ballan wrasse

Ballan wrasse
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Suborder:	Labroidei
Family:	Labridae
Subfamily:	Labrinae
Genus:	Labrus
Species:	L. bergylta
Binomial name
Labrus bergylta Ascanius, 1767
Synonyms
Labrus comber Bonnaterre, 1788 Labrus ballan Bonnaterre, 1788 Labrus maculatus Bloch, 1792 Labrus neustriae Lacépède, 1801 Labrus balanus J. Fleming, 1828 Labrus variabilis W. Thompson, 1837 Crenilabrus multidentatus W. Thompson, 1837 Labrus reticulatus R. T. Lowe, 1839 Labrus donovani Valenciennes, 1839 Labrus nubilus Valenciennes, 1843

The Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) is a species of wrasse native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from Norway to Morocco, including the islands of Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands. They can be found at depths from 1 to 50 m (3.3 to 164.0 ft) amongst rocks, seaweed and reefs. It can grow to 65.9 cm (25.9 in) in total length (though most do not exceed 50 cm (20 in) standard length), and the greatest recorded weight of this species is 4.4 kg (9.7 lb). All Ballan wrasses are female for their first four to 14 years before a few change into males. Large Ballan wrasses are almost certainly male.

This species is popular as a food fish in the Orkney Islands and in Galway, although it is not highly regarded as a food fish in much of the UK and Ireland.

In recent years, it has become a popular catch-and-release target for sport fishermen using light fishing tackle, particularly those employing soft plastic lures.

It can also be used to clean sea lice from Norwegian farmed salmon; the technique is also being developed in Scotland.

This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.