Top Blue Fathead Fishing Countries

The Blue Fathead (Pseudorasbora parva), also known as the topmouth gudgeon, is a small, hardy freshwater fish native to East Asia but now widely distributed across Eurasia due to accidental and intentional introductions. This species thrives in a variety of aquatic environments and is known for its rapid reproduction and adaptability, often outcompeting native species. The primary countries involved in the commercial harvest of Blue Fathead include China, where it is both fished in the wild and farmed for use as bait and animal feed, as well as Russia and several Eastern European nations such as Hungary and Romania, where it has become abundant in local waterways. While not a major target for human consumption, the Blue Fathead supports local fishing industries through its use in aquaculture and as a food source for predatory fish, making it an important, if sometimes problematic, component of the freshwater fishing sector in these regions.

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