Top Roughhead Grenadier Fishing Countries

The Roughhead Grenadier (Macrourus berglax) is a deep-sea fish found primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean, recognized by its large head, tapering body, and rough, spiny scales. This species inhabits depths between 400 and 2,000 meters and is an important target for deep-water trawl fisheries. The top countries involved in harvesting Roughhead Grenadier are Iceland, Russia, Norway, and Greenland, with smaller catches by the Faroe Islands and Canada. These nations operate specialized deep-sea trawlers, often as part of mixed-species fisheries targeting other groundfish such as Greenland halibut and redfish. The fishing industry for Roughhead Grenadier is regulated by international bodies like the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) to ensure sustainable harvests, as deep-sea species are particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to their slow growth and late maturity.

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