The butterfly blenny (Blennius ocellaris), known for its distinctive eye-spot and ornate fins, is a small, benthic marine fish found primarily in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This species inhabits rocky coastal waters and is not a major target of commercial fisheries due to its small size and relatively low abundance. However, it may be caught incidentally as bycatch in small-scale fisheries or collected for the aquarium trade. The top countries where butterfly blennies are most commonly encountered and occasionally harvested include Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece, owing to their extensive rocky shorelines and active artisanal fishing communities. While the butterfly blenny is not a significant contributor to national fishing industries, it plays an important ecological role in coastal habitats and is of interest to marine enthusiasts and researchers in these Mediterranean and Atlantic-bordering nations.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.