Top Mediterranean Starry Ray Fishing Countries

The Mediterranean starry ray (Raja asterias) is a demersal cartilaginous fish found predominantly on sandy or muddy seabeds throughout the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the adjacent eastern Atlantic. Characterized by a broad, flattened body adorned with distinctive white spots, the starry ray is a moderate-sized skate species targeted primarily as bycatch in trawl and gillnet fisheries. The top Mediterranean countries engaged in the harvest of starry ray include Italy, Greece, Spain, and Turkey, where it is landed both intentionally and incidentally alongside other demersal species. Italy, in particular, has a long tradition of consuming skates and rays, incorporating them into local gastronomy. Although the starry ray is not the main target of commercial fisheries, its populations are vulnerable to overfishing due to its slow growth and low reproductive rate, prompting concerns among conservationists and calls for improved management in these leading fishing nations.

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