Top Common European Bittersweet Fishing Countries

The European bittersweet, more commonly known as the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus), is a small freshwater fish native to rivers and lakes across Europe. Recognized for its silvery body and fascinating breeding relationship with freshwater mussels, the bitterling is not a major commercial species but is sometimes caught as bycatch or for ornamental purposes. The primary countries involved in the limited harvest of this species include Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and parts of Eastern Europe, where traditional small-scale fishing and local aquarium trade persist. While the European bitterling is not a target of large-scale commercial fisheries, its presence reflects the health of freshwater ecosystems, and its populations are monitored in regions where water quality and habitat conservation are priorities.

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