Top hatchetfishes, a group within the family Sternoptychidae, are small, deep-sea fish known for their distinctive laterally compressed bodies that resemble a hatchet blade. These bioluminescent fishes inhabit mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones of the world's oceans, where they use their light-producing organs for camouflage and communication. Commercial fishing for top hatchetfishes is minimal due to their small size and deepwater habitat, making them of limited direct economic value. However, they are occasionally caught as bycatch in deep-sea trawl fisheries targeting other species. The countries that report incidental catches or limited harvests of top hatchetfishes, but are not major producers, include Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and some Southeast Asian nations. These "not elsewhere included" countries contribute minor landings, primarily for scientific research or as part of mixed deep-sea fish catches, rather than for targeted commercial exploitation.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.