Top Crocodile Icefishes Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

The Top Crocodile Icefishes Not Elsewhere Included (NEI) refers to a group of Antarctic fish species within the family Channichthyidae, commonly known as crocodile icefishes or white-blooded fishes due to their lack of hemoglobin. These unique fish are adapted to the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean and are primarily harvested as part of the broader Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fisheries. The main countries involved in the commercial fishing of crocodile icefishes NEI are Russia, South Korea, and occasionally Ukraine, operating mostly around the Southern Ocean under the regulation of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The fishing industry targets these species for their mild-flavored flesh, often exporting them to Asian and European markets. However, catches are relatively limited compared to other Antarctic species like Patagonian toothfish, and strict quotas are enforced to ensure sustainable management and to protect the fragile Antarctic ecosystem.

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