Top Rocklings Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Rocklings, belonging to the family Lotidae, are elongated, bottom-dwelling fish commonly found in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas. The "Top Rocklings Not Elsewhere Included" category in fisheries statistics typically refers to rockling species not specifically identified, such as the five-bearded rockling (Ciliata mustela) and shore rockling (Gaidropsarus mediterraneus). These species are primarily caught as bycatch in demersal trawl and gillnet fisheries targeting other groundfish. The leading countries harvesting these rocklings include Norway, the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Spain, where they are utilized for local consumption or as bait in lobster and crab fisheries. While not a primary target for large-scale commercial fishing, rocklings contribute to the diversity of landings in mixed-species fisheries, reflecting the varied and opportunistic nature of the fishing industries in these northern and western European nations.

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