Top Small Spotted Catshark Fishing Countries

The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula), also known as the lesser spotted dogfish, is a small, slender shark native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Recognizable by its elongated body and distinctive pattern of dark spots, this species is commonly found on sandy or muddy sea bottoms at depths ranging from shallow coastal waters to about 400 meters. The small-spotted catshark is primarily targeted as bycatch in trawl and gillnet fisheries rather than as a main commercial species, but it is still landed for human consumption, fishmeal, and bait. The top fishing countries harvesting this species are predominantly European, with Spain, France, the United Kingdom, and Portugal being the most significant contributors due to their extensive demersal fishing fleets operating in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. While not a high-value catch, the small-spotted catshark plays a role in local markets and is subject to management measures to prevent overexploitation in some areas.

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