Top Rays And Skates Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Rays and skates, belonging to the order Rajiformes, are cartilaginous fish closely related to sharks, characterized by their flattened bodies and wing-like pectoral fins. They inhabit a variety of marine environments worldwide, from shallow coastal waters to deep-sea habitats. The global fishing industry targets rays and skates both for their meat, which is consumed fresh, dried, or processed, and for their cartilage, used in some traditional medicines. The top countries harvesting rays and skates (not elsewhere included—meaning species not specifically categorized in catch statistics) are typically those with large, diverse marine fisheries, such as South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. These nations have established commercial fisheries that land significant quantities of these species, often as bycatch in trawl and gillnet fisheries targeting other demersal fish. Management and conservation efforts vary, with some regions implementing quotas and protected areas to address concerns over declining populations due to overfishing and habitat degradation.

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