Top Diadromous Clupeoids Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Top Diadromous Clupeoids Not Elsewhere Included (NEI) refers to a category used in global fisheries statistics to group various migratory clupeoid fish—such as shads, hilsa, and other related species—that are not specifically identified elsewhere. Diadromous clupeoids are small to medium-sized, schooling fish that migrate between marine and freshwater environments to spawn, making them vital to both ecological systems and local economies. The most prominent species in this group is the hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha), especially significant in South Asia. Major fishing countries for these NEI clupeoids include Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and China, where the hilsa and related species are culturally and economically important, supporting millions of livelihoods through artisanal and commercial fisheries. These countries dominate the global catch, with Bangladesh often leading due to the abundance of hilsa in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system. The fisheries are characterized by seasonal peaks, traditional fishing methods, and increasing management challenges due to overfishing and habitat degradation.

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