Top Tilefishes Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Tilefishes, a group of demersal marine fish primarily belonging to the family Malacanthidae, are prized for their firm, white flesh and are mostly found in subtropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. The category "Top Tilefishes Not Elsewhere Included" refers to tilefish species not specifically identified in global fisheries statistics, encompassing various lesser-known or mixed tilefish catches. Major fishing nations for these species include the United States (notably along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico), Japan, Taiwan, and China, where tilefish are targeted by both commercial and artisanal fleets using bottom longlines and traps. In the U.S., the golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) supports a valuable fishery, while in Asian waters, several species such as Branchiostegus japonicus are harvested. These fisheries are important locally and regionally, contributing to both domestic consumption and export markets, with management measures increasingly implemented to ensure sustainability due to the slow growth and late maturity of many tilefish species.

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