Top Snappers Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

The "Top Snappers Not Elsewhere Included" (NEI) category refers to various snapper species (family Lutjanidae) that are grouped together in fisheries statistics when catches are not reported by individual species, often due to mixed catches or data limitations. These snappers are prized for their firm, white flesh and are important both commercially and for subsistence in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Major fishing countries for NEI snappers include Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and Thailand, where artisanal and small-scale fisheries play a significant role alongside larger commercial operations. These nations harvest snappers using handlines, traps, and trawls, supplying both domestic markets and international trade. The NEI snapper industry faces challenges such as overfishing, habitat degradation, and inadequate species-specific data, which complicate management and conservation efforts.

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