Top Rock Sole Fishing Countries

The top rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra) is a demersal flatfish found primarily in the northern Pacific Ocean, particularly along the continental shelf and slope from the Sea of Japan to the Bering Sea and down to the Gulf of Alaska. This species is an important target for commercial bottom trawl fisheries due to its mild flavor and firm texture, making it popular in domestic and export markets. The leading countries harvesting top rock sole are the United States (notably Alaska), Russia, and Japan, with the U.S. and Russia managing large-scale, regulated fisheries in the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. These nations have developed robust management systems to ensure sustainable harvests, as rock sole is a valuable component of the mixed flatfish fishery in the North Pacific region.

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