Argyrosomus regius (Asso y del Rio 1801)—Meagre

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Scioena aquila, Lacép. by Gruvel (1931: 103); subsequently recorded as Argyrosomus regius (Asso 1801) by George et al. (1964: 18); as Argyrosomus regius (Asso) by Mouneimné (1977: 63); as Argyrosomus regius (Asso 1801) by Mouneimné (2002: 181–182). Recent unpublished records from Tyre, Sarafand, Saida, Beirut, Batroun, Tripoli (1998–2019). Material in collection: AUBM, BMNH and USNM.

Distribution. Western Baltic Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, eastern Atlantic: Norway south to Congo; recorded as NIS from the Red Sea.

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 15 November 2007); Med. (LC: 15 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, HAB, Unknown. Occurrence: Rare. Significant decline in the last two decades. Medium priority for conservation action .