The melon-headed whale (*Peponocephala electra*) is a small, social cetacean found in deep tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Despite being called a "whale," it is more closely related to dolphins and is characterized by its rounded head and slender body. Melon-headed whales are not a primary target of large-scale commercial fisheries, but they are occasionally caught as bycatch in tuna purse seine and gillnet fisheries, particularly in the western and central Pacific Ocean. The countries most associated with the capture of melon-headed whales are Japan, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands, where small numbers are taken in local drive fisheries or opportunistically for food and bait. In Japan, particularly in the Taiji region, melon-headed whales are sometimes included in the annual dolphin drive hunts. However, overall, the direct fishing industry for this species is limited and not as significant as for other cetaceans, with most countries focusing on conservation rather than exploitation.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 148 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.