The Common Torpedo (Torpedo torpedo) is a species of electric ray found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, recognizable by its rounded body and ability to generate electric shocks for defense and hunting. While not a primary target for large-scale commercial fisheries due to its low economic value and occasional toxicity, the Common Torpedo is sometimes caught as bycatch in trawl and bottom-set net fisheries. The countries most commonly associated with harvesting this species include Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey, where Mediterranean coastal fisheries occasionally land torpedo rays. These countries' fishing industries focus mainly on higher-value species, but the Common Torpedo is sometimes landed for local consumption or discarded. Although not a significant contributor to national fishing economies, monitoring of torpedo ray bycatch is important for conservation, as localized declines have been noted due to habitat degradation and fishing pressure.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 2 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.