The Brown Comber (*Serranus hepatus*) is a small, benthic marine fish belonging to the family Serranidae, commonly found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Characterized by its brownish coloration and distinctive vertical stripes, this species typically inhabits rocky or sandy bottoms at depths ranging from shallow coastal waters to around 150 meters. While not a primary target for large-scale commercial fisheries, the Brown Comber is often caught as bycatch in trawl and artisanal fisheries. The top countries involved in harvesting Brown Comber include Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, where the species is occasionally sold in local markets and sometimes used as bait or for local consumption. The fishing industry for Brown Comber is relatively small compared to more commercially valuable Mediterranean species, but it plays a minor role in supporting local coastal economies and traditional fishing practices in these Mediterranean countries.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 32 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.