The Atlantic fanfish (Pterycombus brama) is a slender, deep-bodied marine fish found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from Norway and the British Isles south to West Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea. Recognized for its distinctive long dorsal and anal fins, the Atlantic fanfish inhabits deep offshore waters and is not a primary target for large-scale commercial fisheries. However, it is occasionally caught as bycatch in trawl and longline fisheries, particularly by countries with significant deep-sea fishing fleets such as Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. These nations, with access to the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean fishing grounds, are among the top harvesters of Atlantic fanfish, although landings are relatively minor compared to more commercially important species. The fish is sometimes sold in local markets, but its economic value remains limited, and it is more notable as a part of the region’s diverse marine fauna than as a staple of the fishing industry.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.