Top Pacific Sand Sole Fishing Countries

The Pacific sand sole (*Psettichthys melanostictus*) is a flatfish species native to the North Pacific, ranging from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands down to Southern California. Recognized for its elongated, diamond-shaped body and sandy coloration, the sand sole thrives on sandy or muddy bottoms in coastal and continental shelf waters. The primary countries engaged in commercial Pacific sand sole fishing are the United States (particularly Alaska and the West Coast), Canada, and Russia. In the U.S. and Canada, sand sole are typically harvested as part of mixed flatfish trawl fisheries, with Alaska's Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska being especially important regions. Russia also targets this species in the Sea of Okhotsk and along its Pacific coast. While not as economically significant as other flatfish like Pacific halibut or sole, Pacific sand sole contribute to the diversity and sustainability of the region’s groundfish fisheries, with catch levels managed through quotas and bycatch limits to ensure healthy populations.

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