Top Longspine Snipefish Fishing Countries

The Top Longspine Snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) is a small, slender, deep-sea fish characterized by its elongated snout and silvery body, typically inhabiting continental slopes and deep offshore waters at depths ranging from 25 to over 600 meters. While not a primary target of major commercial fisheries, the Longspine Snipefish is often caught as bycatch in deep-sea trawl fisheries. The main countries involved in harvesting this species include Spain, Portugal, and New Zealand, where deepwater trawling fleets operate in the Atlantic and Southwest Pacific Oceans. These nations process the snipefish primarily for fishmeal, animal feed, or occasionally for human consumption, especially in local markets. The overall catch volumes remain modest compared to more commercially valuable deep-sea species, but the Longspine Snipefish forms a notable component of the deepwater fishery bycatch in these regions.

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