sea bream mostly of the large family Sparidae, include numerous species which make fine eating. They are particularly abundant in the Mediterranean, where the dentex and gilt-head bream are especially good; and in the W. Atlantic and Caribbean regions (see porgy); and have many relations in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific, where the name bream is applied not only to the family Sparidae but also to members of the families Lethrinidae (some are described under emperors), and Nemipteridae (threadfin bream) and occasionally to a snapper (thus ‘government bream’ for Lutjanus sebae). The present entry describes them generally and describes the species which seems to be the best qualified to bear the name ‘sea bream’ as its own.
