The Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii), a jawless, eel-like marine species known for its ability to produce copious amounts of slime as a defense mechanism, is primarily harvested for its skin, which is marketed as "eel leather," and for culinary use in East Asia. The top countries involved in the Pacific hagfish fishery are South Korea and Japan, which have significant demand for hagfish as a delicacy and for leather goods. The United States, particularly the West Coast states like California, Oregon, and Washington, also plays a major role as a supplier, exporting much of its catch to Asian markets. The fishery is relatively small compared to other commercial fisheries but is economically important to certain coastal communities, with regulations in place to prevent overfishing due to the hagfish's slow reproductive rate.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | 692 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.