Top Stingrays, Butterfly Rays Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Stingrays and butterfly rays, grouped under the order Myliobatiformes but not classified in the more specific categories, are cartilaginous fishes found in warm and temperate coastal waters worldwide. These rays are characterized by their flattened bodies, long whip-like tails (often with venomous spines in stingrays), and broad pectoral fins that resemble butterfly wings. The main fishing countries for these rays include Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, where they are caught both as targeted species and as bycatch in trawl, gillnet, and longline fisheries. The harvested rays are valued for their meat, which is consumed locally or exported, and their skins, which are used in leather products. In many of these countries, rays contribute to artisanal and small-scale fisheries, though concerns about overfishing and population declines have led to increased attention on sustainable management practices.

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