Top Atlantic Puffers Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

The Atlantic puffer, also known as Sphoeroides maculatus, is a small, spiny-skinned fish found along the Atlantic coasts of North America, particularly from Canada to Florida. Known for its ability to inflate its body as a defense mechanism, the Atlantic puffer is not a major commercial species but is caught both as bycatch and in small-scale fisheries. The term "Not Elsewhere Included" (NEI) in fisheries statistics typically groups together countries that harvest this species but do not report catches under more specific categories. The top NEI fishing countries for Atlantic puffers include the United States, Canada, and some Caribbean nations, where the species is occasionally targeted for local consumption or bait. The fishing industry for Atlantic puffers remains relatively minor compared to other commercial fish, but it contributes to the diversity of coastal fisheries in these regions.

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