Darwin's slimehead (Gephyroberyx darwinii) is a deep-sea fish species belonging to the family Trachichthyidae, recognized for its reddish coloration and bony, rough head. Found primarily in the Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Mediterranean, Darwin’s slimehead inhabits depths between 200 and 1,000 meters, making it a target for deep-sea trawl fisheries. The main countries involved in harvesting Darwin’s slimehead are Spain, Portugal, and France, whose fleets operate in the Northeast Atlantic, particularly around the Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands. These countries target the species both as a primary catch and as bycatch in mixed deep-sea fisheries, with the catch often marketed fresh or frozen in European markets. While not as commercially significant as its relative, the orange roughy, Darwin’s slimehead is valued for its firm, white flesh, but concerns about the sustainability of deep-sea trawling have led to increased regulation and monitoring of its fisheries in recent years.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 22 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.