Ballan Wrasse

Photo: tamsynmann · © all rights reserved

St David's Head's rocky reefs support large ballan wrasse in brilliant green, orange, and brown colour morphs depending on sex and social status, with territorial males patrolling defined reef sections throughout the year. They are exceptionally curious fish that inspect approaching divers closely, and large males over 50 cm are common where fishing pressure is absent. Their role as cleaner fish for other species — including seals — makes them ecologically central to the headland's reef community.