Top Atlantic Moonfish Fishing Countries

The Atlantic moonfish (*Selene setapinnis*) is a silvery, laterally compressed fish found in the western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from New England and Bermuda to Argentina. Recognizable by its deep, disc-shaped body and long dorsal and anal fin rays, the moonfish inhabits coastal waters, often near sandy or muddy bottoms. While not a primary target for large-scale commercial fisheries, it is caught as bycatch in trawl and seine fisheries and is sometimes harvested for local consumption. The top countries involved in Atlantic moonfish fishing include Brazil, the United States, and several Caribbean nations, where the species is landed incidentally alongside more commercially valuable fish. In these regions, moonfish contribute to artisanal and small-scale fisheries, supporting local markets and subsistence fishers, though their overall economic impact remains modest compared to major commercial species.

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