The shark sucker, also known as the remora (family Echeneidae), is a distinctive fish recognized for its flat, suction-cup-like dorsal fin that allows it to attach to larger marine animals such as sharks, rays, and turtles. While not a major commercial target globally, remoras are occasionally caught as bycatch in tropical and subtropical fisheries, particularly in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Countries with active artisanal and small-scale coastal fisheries such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and some West African nations (notably Senegal and Ghana) are among the top harvesters of remoras, often utilizing them locally for food or bait. In some regions, remoras are also used in traditional fishing techniques, where fishermen tie a line to a remora and use its natural behavior to catch other fish. Despite their minor economic importance compared to other fish species, remoras play a unique ecological and cultural role in the fisheries of these tropical coastal countries.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.