The marine life of Kefalonia Island is home for many fish species, thanks to the rich marine ecosystem of the seabed, the diverse underwater landscapes, and the generally mild climate of the Ionian Sea. The clear waters, combined with warm sea temperatures and rocky coastlines, seagrass meadows, and many deeper habitats, provide good environments for a wide range of fish species, which are common in this area of Greece.
The local fish populations around Kefalonia are not only an interesting attraction for divers and snorkelers, but also a important part of local cuisine and marine conservation efforts – not just the local loggerhead turtles and dolphins are protected, but many kind of fishes too.
Grouper
Groupers are among the largest fishes in Kefalonian waters, known for their powerful bodies and large mouths. They live mostly near the coastline, snorkelers and divers meet with them often between 10 meters and 50 meters under sea level. The average size of groupers are 30 – 40 cm, but in rare cases they can be 80 cm long with a weight of 4-5 kg. The groupers have a distinctive, robust appearance with usually mottled brown and green coloring that helps them blend into rocky habitats.

These fishes near Kefalonia prefer mostly the rocky seabeds and underwater caves, where they can often be seen resting or hunting for smaller fishes and crustaceans. These marine animals are generally solitary and territorial, with a slow-moving nature in most of the time. Groupers are also ambush predators, they lurking around rocks or in caves and waiting for prey to come close. It’s worth to know that some of the grouper species are vulnerable due to overfishing, so local conservation efforts are increasingly focusing on protecting around Kefalonia Island in Greece.
When you snorkel in the waters of Kefalonia, groupers are living further away from the crowded beaches, and you can meet them sometimes on the most rocky beaches of the island, such as in deeper parts of Petani beach.
Sea bream (Sparidae Family)
Sea bream is a well known fish in Greek cuisine and a quite common catch of the local fishermen in Kefalonia. Species like the gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) and white seabream (Diplodus sargus) are frequently found in the area, identified by their silver bodies, laterally compressed shape, and they has small and sharp teeth. Sea bream fishes are usually found in shallower waters of the island, often near seagrass beds and rocky coastlines where they forage for invertebrates and algae. In their natural habitat snorkelers can slightly more see them on local beaches such as Antisamos beach, Petani, or the north beaches near Fiskardo.

These fishes are social, often swimming in small groups on the seabed. They feed primarily on crustaceans, mollusks and plant matter, using their sharp teeth to crack open shells. In Greece and also in Kefalonia Island sea bream is one of the most popular fishes in the kitchen, you can see them common on the menus of the local tavernas and fish restaurants. If you can’t find the name of this kind of fish in the menu, try to find it’s Greek name ‘Tsipoura’ (τσιπούρα). In traditional Kefalonian dishes sea breams are often grilled or baked with Mediterranean herbs.
Red Mullet (Mullus barbatus)
The red mullet is belong the smaller local fishes with a length of 20 cm – 30 cm. As you can see its name, these marine animals are one of the most colorful fishes with a pinkish-red body and two characteristic barbels (whisker-like appendages) near its mouth, which it uses to search for food on the seabed. Red mullets are bottom-dwellers, typically found in sandy or muddy areas where they forage for smaller crustaceans, sea worms and mollusks.

These fishes are often seen alone or in small groups both, using their barbels to detect food in the substrate. They are very sensitive to their surroundings and tend to avoid areas with heavy human activity. When you snorkel, primarily you can meet with red mullets where there are no crowds, in sandy seabeds such as deepers parts of Xi or the southern sandy beaches. Red mullet is also highly prized in Greek cuisine for its flavorful meat. The local chefs of Kefalonia often prepare these fishes grilled, fried, or in traditional fish stews.
Moray Eel (Muraenidae Family)
Moray eels can be find also in Kefalonian waters – these fishes are very unique, snake-like creatures with elongated bodies and a strong mouth full of sharp teeth. They have a distinctive look, with a variety of patterns and colors depending on the species, ranging from brown to spotted or striped. Many travelers are surprised to hear it that eels live in the waters of Kefalonia Island, but it is also just a fish as other marine animals, who can be find in a lot of places in Ionian Sea.

Moray eels prefer primarily rocky underwater cliffs and underwater caves, where they can hide and wait to ambush their prey – we mostly meet with them in the rocky sides of Petani beach. These eels are generally nocturnal and are known for their solitary, territorial nature – if you meet them when snorkeling, always keep distance and be careful. Never reach into underwater cavities, because these animals are usually well hidden, but they can attack and bite lightning fast. They don’t like much noise, so eels can be find further away from the crowded areas and from sandy beaches, and you don’t have to worry about your kids. They are carnivorous and feed primarily on fish and small crustaceans.
Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)
The amberjacks are a large, fast-swimming fishes of the Ionian Sea with a streamlined body and a prominent yellowish stripe running from the head to the tail. Amberjacks are often found near underwater cliffs and reefs, especially in deeper waters (between 20 – 50 meters), so snorkelers in Kefalonia can meet them very rare, but divers further away from the coastline sometimes see these fishes.
The amberjacks are powerful swimmers and are often seen in small groups. They are predators and feeding on smaller fishes and squids, and they can grow to impressive sizes even in the Ionian Sea, nut just in the oceans.
Mackerel (Scomber colias)
The mackerel is known commonly as ‘Kolios’ (Κολιός) in Greece. In the world there are more than 30 species of mackerels, which are very various in their with length between 20 cm – 250 cm, but the mackerels which live in the Ionian Sea around Kefalonia Island have a length 30 cm – 50 cm. The mackerels are especially rich in Omega-3 acids, so they are healthy and well known in the local kitchens. The mackerels of the Ionian Sea can be find mostly in open waters, further away from the shores.
Fishes in Kefalonian Cuisine
Fishes are very important food sources since thousands of years in the Kefalonian diet. Therefore a lot of local tavernas offer a variety of seafood dishes, many of which feature fish that are caught fresh from the Ionian Sea. On the local menus the most widely known are the grilled fishes, which are simple but very delicious. The local kitchens make grilled fishes often by seabream, red mullet, swordfish, etc, and served with olive oil, lemon and herbs.

The Kefalonian fish stew, or known locally as “bourdetto” or “bianco,” is a traditional fish stew includes local fish cooked with garlic, onion, and a hint of chili or vinegar (depend on chef), giving it a flavorful and hearty taste. The smaller fishes, such as sarines are often fried in oil and served with lemon – this meal is also a popular and accessible dish for locals and tourists both.