Top Spotted Ray Fishing Countries

The top spotted ray fishing countries include India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and several nations along the West African coast, such as Senegal and Ghana. The spotted ray, commonly referring to species like the bluespotted ribbontail ray (*Taeniura lymma*) and the common spotted ray (*Raja montagui*), is characterized by its flat body adorned with distinctive blue or dark spots. These rays inhabit shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and sandy or muddy seabeds. They are targeted both as a food source and for their cartilage, with their meat often consumed locally or exported. The fishing industry for spotted rays is largely artisanal in developing countries, using trawl nets, gillnets, and sometimes handlines. Overfishing and habitat degradation have raised concerns about declining populations, prompting calls for improved management and conservation measures in the primary harvesting nations.

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