The broadgilled hagfish (Eptatretus cirrhatus) is a jawless, eel-like marine species known for its ability to produce copious amounts of slime as a defense mechanism. Native to the temperate waters around New Zealand and southern Australia, the broadgilled hagfish is primarily harvested for its skin, which is marketed as "eel leather," and for consumption in some Asian markets, particularly in South Korea where hagfish is considered a delicacy. New Zealand is the leading country in the commercial harvest of this species, with a regulated fishery that exports both fresh and processed hagfish products. Australia also participates in the fishery, though to a lesser extent. The industry is relatively small compared to other fisheries but is economically significant for local communities, with strict quotas and management measures in place to ensure sustainability due to the species' slow reproductive rate and vulnerability to overfishing.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 71 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.