The marbled rockcod (Notothenia rossii), also known as the marbled notothenia, is a demersal fish native to the cold Southern Ocean waters surrounding sub-Antarctic islands, particularly around South Georgia, the South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Recognizable by its mottled brownish coloration and robust body, this species was historically a major target for commercial fisheries due to its abundance and palatable flesh. During the 1960s to 1980s, the Soviet Union, Poland, and East Germany were the top marbled rockcod fishing countries, operating large-scale industrial fleets in these remote waters. Overfishing led to a dramatic decline in stocks, prompting strict international regulation and, in many areas, a moratorium on commercial fishing for this species. Today, marbled rockcod populations remain under close scientific monitoring, and the species is no longer a major target in global fisheries, with most countries focusing on conservation and recovery rather than active harvest.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.