Top Striped Dolphin Fishing Countries

The striped dolphin (*Stenella coeruleoalba*) is a sleek, fast-swimming cetacean recognized by its distinctive blue and white stripes along its sides. Found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, this species is not typically targeted by large-scale commercial fisheries for food, but it is incidentally caught in tuna purse seine and driftnet fisheries, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea and the western Pacific Ocean. Countries such as Japan, Spain, and Italy have historically reported significant bycatch of striped dolphins, with Japan also known for direct takes in coastal whaling operations. In the Mediterranean, particularly off the coasts of Spain and Italy, striped dolphins are vulnerable to bycatch due to intensive fishing activity. International conservation efforts and stricter fishing regulations have been implemented in recent years to reduce accidental captures and protect the populations of this charismatic marine mammal.

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