Top Dall'S Porpoise Fishing Countries

The Dall’s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) is a robust, fast-swimming cetacean native to the North Pacific Ocean, recognized for its striking black-and-white coloration and energetic surface behavior. Unlike typical fish, Dall’s porpoise is a marine mammal, but it has historically been targeted in small cetacean fisheries. The primary country engaged in Dall’s porpoise hunting is Japan, where the species is caught for meat through drive and hand-harpoon fisheries, particularly in northern regions such as Hokkaido. While other countries bordering the North Pacific, like Russia and the United States, may incidentally catch Dall’s porpoises as bycatch in commercial fisheries, Japan remains the only nation with a significant directed fishery. The annual catch has declined since its peak in the late 20th century due to international scrutiny and declining demand, but Japan still maintains regulated harvests, making it the top—and virtually sole—country actively fishing for Dall’s porpoise today.

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