Dragonets are small, bottom-dwelling marine fish belonging to the family Callionymidae, known for their vibrant colors and elongated bodies. While not a major target of large-scale commercial fisheries, dragonets are occasionally caught as bycatch in trawl fisheries and are sometimes harvested for the aquarium trade, particularly the popular mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus). The top countries associated with dragonet fishing include China, Japan, and several Southeast Asian nations, where coastal trawl fisheries incidentally catch dragonets along with other demersal species. In these regions, dragonets may be consumed locally or sold in live fish markets, though their economic importance is minor compared to more commercially valuable species. The fishing industry for dragonets is generally small-scale and localized, with most global harvests occurring in the Indo-Pacific, where dragonet diversity and abundance are highest.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 4 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.