Top Spottail Spiny Turbot Fishing Countries

The Spottail Spiny Turbot (Psettodes belcheri) is a demersal flatfish found primarily in the coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and western Indian Ocean, particularly along the coasts of West Africa. Recognized for its oval, flattened body and distinctive spotted tail, this species inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms from shallow waters to depths of around 100 meters. The top countries engaged in harvesting the Spottail Spiny Turbot include Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Angola, where it is caught mainly by artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries using trawl nets and bottom-set gillnets. The fish is valued locally for its firm, white flesh and is an important source of protein in West African diets. While not a major target of large-scale industrial fleets, the Spottail Spiny Turbot contributes to the livelihoods of coastal communities, and its catch is typically sold fresh in local markets or dried and salted for preservation.

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