Top Angelshark Fishing Countries

The angelshark (genus *Squatina*) is a unique, flattened species of shark resembling rays, found primarily on sandy or muddy sea bottoms in temperate and tropical waters. Historically, angelsharks were targeted for their meat, fins, and liver oil, with significant fisheries developing in the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean, and parts of the Pacific. Spain, particularly the Canary Islands, was once among the top angelshark fishing countries, alongside Portugal, Morocco, and some North African nations. However, due to severe population declines from overfishing and bycatch—often as part of trawl, gillnet, and longline fisheries—most angelshark species are now classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. As a result, targeted fisheries have largely ceased, and current captures are mostly incidental, with strict protections in place in many regions to aid their recovery.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.