Top Weevers Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

Top weevers, classified under the family Trachinidae, are small, venomous marine fish found primarily in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. Known for their sharp dorsal spines, which can deliver a painful sting, weevers are not typically targeted by large-scale commercial fisheries but are often caught as bycatch or in small artisanal fisheries. The category "Top Weevers Not Elsewhere Included" in FAO statistics refers to weever species not specifically identified in catch data. The main countries harvesting these fish are European nations with Atlantic coastlines, such as Spain, France, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, where they are occasionally landed and sold locally, often as a minor component of mixed-species fisheries. While their economic importance is relatively modest compared to more popular species, they are valued in some regional cuisines and contribute to the biodiversity of coastal fish markets.

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