The Antarctic jonasfish (Notolepis coatsi) is a slender, silvery deep-sea fish found in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. It is a lesser-known species, primarily inhabiting depths between 200 and 1,000 meters, and is not a major target for large-scale commercial fisheries due to its relatively small size and limited market demand. However, some countries with active Antarctic fishing fleets, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Chile, occasionally harvest jonasfish as bycatch while targeting more commercially valuable species like Patagonian toothfish and Antarctic icefish. The Antarctic fishing industry is highly regulated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which sets strict quotas and guidelines to protect vulnerable species and maintain ecosystem balance. While jonasfish are not a primary focus, their incidental capture highlights the broader international interest in Antarctic marine resources and the need for sustainable fishing practices in this fragile environment.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.