Top Picked Dogfish Fishing Countries

Dogfish, commonly referring to several species in the Squalidae family such as the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), are small, slender sharks found in temperate and subarctic oceans worldwide. Prized for their mild-flavored meat and valued in products like fish and chips, dogfish are targeted by commercial fisheries for both domestic consumption and export. The leading dogfish fishing countries include the United States (particularly from the Atlantic coast), Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. These nations have established significant dogfish fisheries, with the North Atlantic being a primary harvesting region. Historically, dogfish were considered bycatch or less desirable, but demand has grown, especially in Europe and Asia, leading to targeted fisheries and increased management efforts to ensure sustainability due to concerns about overfishing and slow reproductive rates of these sharks.

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