The grenadier cod, more commonly referred to as grenadiers or rattails (family Macrouridae), are deep-sea fish found in cold waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Characterized by their large heads and tapering bodies, grenadiers are primarily harvested for their white, mild-flavored flesh, though their commercial value is moderate compared to other groundfish. The top countries involved in grenadier cod fishing include Russia, New Zealand, Norway, and Spain, with significant catches also reported by Japan and Portugal. These nations operate large trawl fleets targeting grenadiers—such as the roughhead grenadier (*Macrourus berglax*) and roundnose grenadier (*Coryphaenoides rupestris*)—in deep offshore waters, often as part of mixed-species deep-sea fisheries. The industry faces sustainability challenges due to the slow growth and late maturity of grenadiers, prompting international management efforts, particularly in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean, to regulate catches and protect vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.