Loup de mer and Sea bass are the same fish. Different languages, different markets, one species — so a recipe calling for one works exactly as written with the other.
The one fish
European sea bass is one of the great naming confusion fish — the same farmed species is called loup de mer in France, lubina in Spain, branzino in Italy, and robalo in Portugal and Brazil. It has delicate white flesh, few bones, and a clean mild flavor. Farmed extensively in the Mediterranean, it is most commonly cooked whole — roasted in salt crust, grilled over open flame, or baked with herbs.
What to ask for, by country
One species, one fishmonger’s counter at a time.
| Country | Called |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | Sea bass |
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | Sea bass |
| 🇫🇷France | Loup de mer |
| 🇪🇸Spain | Lubina |
| 🇦🇷Argentina | Pejerrey de mar |
| 🇲🇽Mexico | Lubina |
| 🇵🇹Portugal | Robalo |
| 🇮🇹Italy | Branzino |
| 🇩🇪Germany | Wolfsbarsch |
Browse every species in the atlas on the fish index, or identify one from a photo with Identify my cut.