Top Horned Turban Fishing Countries

The Top Horned Turban (Turbo cornutus), also known as the horned turban snail or "sazae" in Japan, is a large marine gastropod found primarily in the coastal waters of East Asia. Renowned for its thick, spiral shell adorned with horn-like projections, this mollusk is highly prized as a delicacy, especially in Japanese and Korean cuisine. The fishing and aquaculture of the Top Horned Turban are most prominent in Japan, which is the leading harvester due to the species' abundance along its rocky shores and its cultural significance in Japanese gastronomy. South Korea and China also maintain significant fisheries for this species, both for domestic consumption and export. The industry relies on both wild harvest and increasingly on aquaculture, as wild stocks have faced pressure from overfishing and habitat loss. Sustainable management and farming practices are being developed in these countries to ensure the continued availability of this valued seafood.

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