Top Kissing Gourami Fishing Countries

The Kissing Gourami (Helostoma temminckii) is a freshwater fish species native to Southeast Asia, recognized for its distinctive "kissing" behavior where individuals press their mouths together. This species inhabits slow-moving waters such as swamps, ponds, and canals, and is popular both as an ornamental aquarium fish and as a food source in its native range. The primary countries involved in the fishing and aquaculture of Kissing Gourami are Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. In these countries, the fish is harvested from the wild and increasingly farmed in aquaculture systems for local consumption and export, particularly for the aquarium trade. While not a major global commercial species compared to tilapia or carp, Kissing Gourami holds cultural and economic significance in Southeast Asia, contributing to small-scale fisheries and local markets.

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