The smalleyed rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus), also known as the rivulated rabbitfish, is a herbivorous marine fish native to the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, and it has become established in the eastern Mediterranean through Lessepsian migration via the Suez Canal. This species is easily recognized by its laterally compressed body and small, rabbit-like mouth, and is valued for its mild-flavored flesh. The top countries involved in smalleyed rabbitfish fishing include Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, and Turkey, particularly along the Mediterranean coasts where the species has proliferated. In these regions, the fish is caught both for local consumption and for sale in regional markets, often using gillnets and traps. The expansion of Siganus rivulatus in the Mediterranean has led to its increasing importance in local fisheries, supplementing traditional catches and providing a new resource for coastal fishing communities.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.