Top Boxfishes Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Boxfishes, belonging to the family Ostraciidae, are distinctive tropical and subtropical marine fish recognized for their rigid, box-like bodies covered in bony plates. While not a major global commercial species, boxfishes are harvested in various regions, often grouped under the "Boxfishes Not Elsewhere Included" category in FAO fisheries statistics. These fish are primarily caught as bycatch or for local consumption in countries across Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and parts of West Africa. Notably, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka are among the top countries reporting boxfish catches, where they are used for food, traditional medicine, and sometimes the aquarium trade. The boxfish fishery is generally small-scale and artisanal, reflecting the fish’s limited demand and specialized habitats, but it remains an important resource for coastal communities in these regions.

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