The live sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates) is a distinctive species of remora known for its elongated body and unique suction disc atop its head, which it uses to attach itself to larger marine animals like sharks, rays, and sea turtles. While not a primary target of large-scale commercial fisheries, live sharksuckers are occasionally caught as bycatch in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. They are sometimes harvested for use as bait, in the aquarium trade, or for local consumption. The countries most associated with the incidental capture and occasional targeted fishing of live sharksuckers include India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and various nations in West Africa, where artisanal and small-scale fisheries operate in coastal regions. However, the overall economic impact of sharksucker fishing remains minor compared to other commercial fish species, and data on dedicated harvest is limited, reflecting the species’ secondary role in the global fishing industry.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahrain | 2 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.