Top Velvet Belly Fishing Countries

The velvet belly lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax) is a small, deep-sea shark species known for its bioluminescent organs and velvety dark skin. Found primarily in the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, this species inhabits depths between 200 and 2,500 meters. The velvet belly is not a major commercial target but is often caught as bycatch in deep-water trawl fisheries targeting other species such as deep-sea cod, grenadiers, and redfish. The top countries involved in the incidental harvest of velvet belly lanternsharks include Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy, due to their active deep-sea fishing fleets operating off the coasts of Western Europe and in the Mediterranean. While not a primary fishery species, the velvet belly is sometimes used for fishmeal or local consumption, and its population status is considered vulnerable due to bycatch and the slow reproductive rate typical of deep-sea sharks.

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