"Top lings not elsewhere included" refers to a group of demersal fish species in the family Lotidae, commonly known as lings, that are not individually specified in global fisheries statistics. The most well-known ling is the common ling (Molva molva), a large predatory fish found in the North Atlantic, valued for its firm, white flesh and often used in salted or dried preparations. Other related species may be included in this category, such as blue ling (Molva dypterygia) and various cusk species. The main countries harvesting these lings are Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Russia, where they are caught primarily by deep-sea trawlers and longliners. These nations have established ling fisheries, with Norway and Iceland being particularly prominent due to their extensive North Atlantic fishing fleets and processing industries. Ling is marketed fresh, frozen, or processed, and is an important export product for these countries, especially within Europe.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.