Top Spotted Gurnard Fishing Countries

The Top Spotted Gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza) is a demersal fish species found primarily in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, recognized for its distinctive red coloration and striking blue-spotted pectoral fins. This species inhabits sandy or muddy seabeds at depths ranging from shallow coastal waters to around 200 meters. The fishing industry targets the Top Spotted Gurnard using trawling and bottom longline methods, with the most significant catches reported in countries bordering the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, notably Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and France. These countries have long traditions of harvesting gurnards, which are valued both for their firm, flavorful flesh in local cuisines and as a component of mixed-species trawl fisheries. While not as commercially important as some other demersal species, the Top Spotted Gurnard contributes to the diversity and sustainability of regional fisheries in these nations.

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