The black driftfish (Hyperoglyphe perciformis), also known as barrelfish, is a deep-sea species found in temperate and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Characterized by its dark coloration and robust body, this species inhabits depths ranging from 300 to 1,200 meters, often near floating debris or deepwater structures. The black driftfish is not a primary target for large-scale commercial fisheries, but it is caught as bycatch in deep-sea trawling and longline fisheries. The top countries involved in the harvest of black driftfish include the United States, particularly in the western Atlantic off the coast of the southeastern states, and Spain and Portugal, where deep-sea fishing fleets operate in the eastern Atlantic. While the overall catch volumes remain relatively modest compared to more commercially valuable species, black driftfish is valued locally for its firm, white flesh and is marketed fresh or frozen in these regions.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.