Sculpins, classified under the family Cottidae, are bottom-dwelling, spiny-headed fish found predominantly in cold and temperate coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. While sculpins are not a major target of large-scale commercial fisheries, they are often caught as bycatch or in small-scale, local fisheries, especially in countries with extensive cold-water coastlines. The top sculpin-harvesting nations not otherwise highlighted in global fisheries statistics include Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States (notably Alaska). In these countries, sculpins are sometimes processed for fish meal, used as bait, or consumed locally, particularly in traditional dishes. The overall sculpin fishery is relatively minor compared to more commercially valuable species, but it plays a role in regional economies and the subsistence lifestyles of some coastal communities.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.