Top Longspine Thornyhead Fishing Countries

The longspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus altivelis) is a deep-sea rockfish species found primarily in the North Pacific Ocean, recognized for its spiky dorsal fins and bright red coloration. This fish inhabits depths ranging from 200 to over 1,200 meters and is valued for its firm, white flesh, making it a sought-after catch in commercial fisheries. The top countries harvesting longspine thornyhead are the United States and Japan, with the U.S. West Coast—particularly Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California—hosting the largest fisheries. In these regions, the species is commonly caught as part of multi-species groundfish trawl fisheries. Japan also maintains a significant fishery for longspine thornyhead, locally known as "kinki," where it is prized in high-end cuisine. Both countries have implemented management measures to ensure the sustainability of thornyhead stocks due to their slow growth and late maturity, which make them vulnerable to overfishing.

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