Pomfret
A family of scombriform fish found in oceans worldwide, valued as food.
Pomfrets are a group of ocean-dwelling fish classified under the family Bramidae. They include twenty living species and serve as an important food source in regions like the Indian Subcontinent. Their name derives from the Portuguese word for butterfish.
- Family Bramidae contains twenty living species.
- Flesh is white in colour.
- Found in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
- Brama brama is important food in India.
- Known as monchong in Hawaii.
What it is
Pomfrets belong to the family Bramidae within the order Scombriformes. This group contains twenty recognized species distributed across seven genera. The flesh of these fish is white. Historically, the name appeared as pamflet, likely originating from the Portuguese term pampo, which described various butterfish such as the blue butterfish. While several species carry the pomfret label, some butterfish in the genus Pampus share this common name as well.
Where it lives
These fish inhabit waters globally across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. They also occur in specific seas including the Norwegian, Mediterranean, and Sea of Japan. Most species live in open high seas. Genera like Pterycombus and Pteraclis prefer areas near continental shelves. Members of the genus Eumegistus are thought to be benthic, occupying deeper water shelves rather than surface waters.
How it lives
Information regarding specific diet, schooling behaviour, or migration patterns is not provided in the available material. Some genera show preferences for shelf edges or deeper zones.
Breeding and life cycle
Details on spawning habits, egg types, or juvenile growth rates are absent from the provided text.
Fish and people
Several species function as significant food sources for humans. Brama brama holds particular importance in the Indian Subcontinent. In Hawaiian cuisine, certain species are referred to as monchong. The meat is noted for its white colour. No details exist regarding farming methods, aquarium keeping, or cultural festivals associated with these fish.
Status and threats
The conservation status of pomfrets is not assessed in the provided text.
Questions people ask about Pomfret
What does the name pomfret mean?
The earlier form was pamflet, likely from the Portuguese pampo, referring to butterfish like the blue butterfish.
Where do pomfrets live?
They inhabit the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, plus the Norwegian, Mediterranean, and Sea of Japan seas.
Are they eaten by people?
Yes, several species are important food sources, especially Brama brama in the Indian Subcontinent.
What other names do they have?
Some species are called monchong in Hawaiian cuisine. The genus Pampus butterfish are also known as pomfrets.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pomfret", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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