Top Blackmouth Catshark Fishing Countries

The blackmouth catshark (*Galeus melastomus*) is a small, deep-sea shark found primarily in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, typically inhabiting depths between 150 and 1,400 meters. Recognizable by its slender body and distinctive dark mouth lining, this species is not targeted by major commercial fisheries but is often caught as bycatch in deep-water trawl and longline fisheries. The top countries involved in harvesting blackmouth catshark are Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France, largely due to their active deep-sea fishing fleets operating in the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic. In these regions, blackmouth catsharks are sometimes landed for local consumption or used as fishmeal, but most are discarded. Despite its minor economic value, the species is closely monitored due to concerns about the sustainability of deep-sea fisheries and the vulnerability of slow-growing shark populations.

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