The Senegalese ladyfish (Elops senegalensis) is a slender, silvery fish found in coastal and estuarine waters of the eastern Atlantic, from Mauritania to Angola, including the waters off Senegal. Renowned for its agility and strong fighting ability, it is a popular target for both artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries. The main countries harvesting Senegalese ladyfish are Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau, where local communities rely on this species for food security and income. While the species is not the focus of large-scale industrial fishing, it is commonly caught using gillnets and beach seines, often alongside other coastal fish species. The fishing industry in these West African nations is vital for livelihoods, but increasing fishing pressure and habitat degradation have raised concerns about the sustainability of ladyfish stocks in the region.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.