Top Guitarfishes, Etc. Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Guitarfishes, belonging to the family Rhinobatidae, are cartilaginous fishes that resemble a cross between sharks and rays, characterized by their elongated bodies and flattened heads. These species inhabit shallow coastal waters, often on sandy or muddy bottoms, and are found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The "Top Guitarfishes, Etc. Not Elsewhere Included" category in fisheries statistics generally encompasses various guitarfish species and closely related rays not classified elsewhere. Major fishing countries targeting these species include India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and several West African nations, where they are caught both as targeted species and as bycatch in trawl and gillnet fisheries. Guitarfishes are harvested primarily for their meat, which is consumed locally or exported, and their fins, which are highly valued in the international shark fin trade. Overfishing and habitat degradation have led to significant declines in many guitarfish populations, prompting conservation concerns and increased regulation in some regions.

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