Top Hagfishes Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Hagfishes, belonging to the family Myxinidae, are jawless, eel-like marine creatures renowned for their ability to produce copious amounts of slime as a defense mechanism. They inhabit deep, muddy seafloors and are primarily scavengers, feeding on dead or dying fish and marine animals. The commercial fishing of hagfishes is relatively niche and mainly driven by demand for their skin, marketed as "eel leather" in the fashion industry, and for consumption in certain Asian cuisines, particularly in South Korea. The top hagfish fishing countries not elsewhere included in major global rankings are the United States (notably off the Pacific coast), New Zealand, and Canada, where targeted fisheries have developed to supply Asian markets. These countries regulate hagfish harvests to prevent overfishing, as their slow reproductive rates make populations vulnerable to exploitation. The industry remains small but lucrative, with most exports destined for Korea and Japan, where hagfish are considered a delicacy.

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