The prickly croaker (Otolithes ruber), also known as the tigertooth croaker or tiger-toothed croaker, is a marine fish species found primarily in the Indo-West Pacific region, inhabiting coastal waters and estuaries. Recognized for its elongated body and distinctive prickly scales, the prickly croaker is valued both as a food fish and for its swim bladder, which is used in traditional medicine and as a source of isinglass. The top countries harvesting prickly croaker are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran, where it is caught predominantly by artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries using trawls, gillnets, and handlines. India leads in production, with major landings along its western and eastern coasts, followed by Pakistan’s Sindh and Balochistan provinces and the coastal waters of Bangladesh and Iran. The prickly croaker fishery is economically important in these regions, supporting local livelihoods and exports, though concerns about overfishing and habitat degradation have prompted calls for more sustainable management practices.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.