Top Scaldfishes Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Scaldfishes, primarily belonging to the genus Arnoglossus, are small, left-eyed flatfishes found in temperate and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific Oceans. These demersal fish are not a major commercial species globally but are caught incidentally in trawl fisheries targeting mixed flatfish or demersal assemblages. The term “Scaldfishes Not Elsewhere Included” refers to catches of various scaldfish species not classified under more specific categories. The leading countries involved in harvesting these species are typically those with active demersal trawl fisheries in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, such as Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and Italy. In these regions, scaldfishes are often landed as bycatch and may be used for local consumption, fish meal, or animal feed, rather than as a primary target for export markets. The overall catch volumes are relatively modest compared to more commercially valuable flatfish, but they contribute to the diversity and sustainability of local fisheries.

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