Trematomus is a genus of notothenioid fishes, commonly known as Antarctic cods, native to the cold waters of the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. These benthic and semi-demersal species are well adapted to frigid environments, playing a significant ecological role in Antarctic marine ecosystems. While global commercial exploitation of Trematomus species is limited due to their remote habitat and relatively low market demand, some countries with active Antarctic fisheries, such as Russia, Ukraine, and occasionally Chile, may incidentally harvest Trematomus species as part of broader Antarctic fishery operations targeting species like Patagonian toothfish and icefish. The fishing industry in this region is tightly regulated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to prevent overfishing and protect the fragile Antarctic ecosystem. Overall, Trematomus species are not a primary target of large-scale commercial fisheries, but they are occasionally caught by countries involved in Antarctic fishing activities, with Russia and Ukraine being among the top harvesters.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.