Top Ruffe Fishing Countries

The ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) is a small, spiny freshwater fish native to Eurasia, particularly prevalent in northern Europe and parts of Asia. Recognized for its adaptability and rapid reproduction, the ruffe is typically found in lakes and slow-moving rivers. Commercial and recreational fishing for ruffe is most prominent in countries such as Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Poland, where it is valued both as a food fish and as bait for larger predatory species. While not a major target of large-scale fisheries, ruffe are often caught incidentally in mixed catches with perch and other small cyprinids. In some regions, particularly around the Baltic Sea and large Russian lakes, local fisheries have developed niche markets for ruffe, utilizing it in traditional dishes or as a component in fish meal production. However, outside its native range, such as in the Great Lakes of North America, the ruffe is considered an invasive species and is subject to control efforts rather than commercial harvest.

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