Top Kitefin Shark Fishing Countries

The kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) is a deep-sea species found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, recognized for its elongated body, large eyes, and bioluminescent abilities. It inhabits depths typically between 200 and 1,800 meters and is valued primarily for its liver oil, which is rich in squalene, as well as its meat and skin. The major countries involved in kitefin shark fishing include Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, and Japan, where deep-sea trawling and longlining target this species—often as part of mixed deepwater shark fisheries. Portugal and Spain, in particular, have a long history of harvesting kitefin sharks in the Northeast Atlantic, while New Zealand and Japan exploit populations in the South Pacific and Northwest Pacific, respectively. Due to their slow growth and low reproductive rates, kitefin sharks are vulnerable to overfishing, and their populations are considered to be in decline, prompting increasing calls for international management and conservation measures.

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