Dealfishes, belonging to the family Trachipteridae, are elongated, ribbon-like deep-sea fish found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide. Known for their striking appearance and silvery bodies, dealfishes are not a primary target for large-scale commercial fisheries due to their deep-water habitat and relatively low abundance. However, they are occasionally caught as bycatch in deep-sea trawling operations. The top countries involved in the incidental harvest of dealfishes include Japan, Spain, and New Zealand, where deep-sea fishing industries operate extensively. In these nations, dealfishes are sometimes landed alongside more commercially valuable species such as alfonsino, grenadiers, and other deep-sea fish. While not a major contributor to the global fishing industry, the capture of dealfishes reflects the broader reach of deep-sea fisheries and the diversity of species encountered in these operations.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.