Top Stout Beardfish Fishing Countries

The stout beardfish (*Polymixia nobilis*) is a deep-sea species characterized by its robust body, silvery coloration, and distinctive chin barbels, which it uses to detect prey on the ocean floor. Found primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, especially near the continental slopes of the eastern and western Atlantic, this species is not a major target of commercial fisheries due to its deep habitat and relatively low abundance. However, countries such as Spain and Portugal, with their advanced deep-sea fishing fleets, occasionally land stout beardfish as bycatch while targeting other deepwater species like grenadiers and black scabbardfish. The United States, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and along the southeastern coast, also records incidental catches of stout beardfish. While not a significant contributor to the global fishing industry, the species is of interest to scientific research and deep-sea biodiversity monitoring in these regions.

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