Top Giant Featherback Fishing Countries

The Giant Featherback (Chitala lopis), also known as the Giant Knifefish, is a large freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, particularly found in slow-moving rivers and lakes. Recognized for its elongated, laterally compressed body and distinctive undulating fin, this species is prized both as a food fish and in the ornamental fish trade. The top countries involved in harvesting the Giant Featherback are Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, where it is caught both commercially and by local fishers for domestic consumption and export. In these countries, the fishing industry for Giant Featherback is typically small-scale, using traditional gear such as gillnets and traps, although overfishing and habitat loss have led to declines in some areas. Conservation efforts and aquaculture initiatives are increasingly important in these nations to sustain both wild populations and the livelihoods of communities dependent on this unique species.

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