Top Moray Cods Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Moray cods, classified under "Not Elsewhere Included" (NEI) in FAO statistics, refer to various demersal fish species in the family Muraenolepididae and related groups that are not individually identified in catch reports. These fish are typically found in deep, cold waters of the Southern Hemisphere, particularly around sub-Antarctic islands and the Southern Ocean. The primary countries engaged in the commercial fishing of moray cods NEI include Russia, South Korea, and New Zealand, with Russia historically leading the harvest due to its large distant-water fleets operating in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. The fishing industry for these species is often conducted by trawlers targeting mixed demersal assemblages, with moray cods being a valuable bycatch. The meat is considered of moderate quality and is mostly used for local consumption or processed into fishmeal. Strict international regulations, particularly through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), oversee the fishery to ensure sustainable management and to prevent overexploitation of these relatively little-known deep-sea species.

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