Top Scup Fishing Countries

Scup (Stenotomus chrysops), commonly known as porgy, is a marine fish species native to the western Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the eastern coast of North America from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Recognized for its compressed, silver body and popularity as a food fish, scup supports a significant commercial and recreational fishery. The United States is by far the leading country in scup harvesting, with the majority of landings occurring in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York, where both commercial trawl and trap fisheries are prominent. While scup is not widely targeted outside the U.S., smaller-scale fisheries may exist in neighboring countries such as Canada and, to a lesser extent, in the Caribbean. The U.S. manages scup fisheries through quotas and seasonal regulations to ensure sustainability, making it a well-monitored and regionally important fishery.

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