Top Blackspotted Rubberlip Fishing Countries

The Blackspotted Rubberlip (Plectorhinchus gaterinus), also known as the Blackspotted Sweetlips, is a reef-associated fish species recognizable by its thick lips and distinctive black spots on a pale body. It inhabits the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and coastal waters of East Africa and South Asia. The top countries engaged in the harvest of Blackspotted Rubberlip are primarily those bordering these regions, notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Iran, India, and Tanzania. In these countries, the species is targeted by artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries, often using handlines, traps, and nets. The fish is valued for its firm, white flesh and is sold fresh in local markets, contributing to food security and livelihoods in coastal communities. While not a major export commodity, the Blackspotted Rubberlip plays an important role in regional fisheries, particularly in the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean countries.

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