Driftfish, belonging to the family Nomeidae, are pelagic fish found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, often associated with floating debris and sometimes with jellyfish. These fish are not a primary target for large-scale commercial fisheries but are caught incidentally in pelagic longline and drift net fisheries. The main countries harvesting driftfish are Japan, Taiwan, and China, where they are sometimes marketed fresh or processed, particularly in local markets. In these regions, driftfish are often a bycatch in fisheries targeting tuna and other large pelagic species. While not a major global fishery, the driftfish catch contributes to the diversity of seafood available in East Asian markets and highlights the interconnectedness of pelagic fishing industries in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.