Top Piranhas Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Piranhas are freshwater fish belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, renowned for their sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Native primarily to South American river systems such as the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná, piranhas are harvested both for local consumption and for the aquarium trade. While Brazil is the dominant country associated with piranha fishing due to the vast Amazon basin, other countries with significant but less globally recognized piranha fisheries include Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela. In these nations, piranhas are caught by artisanal and small-scale commercial fishers, often using nets or simple hook-and-line methods. The fish are valued locally for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in some regions, and their unique appearance makes them popular in international aquarium markets. Although the piranha fishing industry is not as large or industrialized as those targeting other South American fish like catfish or tilapia, it remains an important economic activity in rural riverine communities across the continent.

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