The White Margate (Haemulon album) is a medium-sized, silvery-gray grunt fish found primarily in the western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the southeastern United States and Bermuda through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Known for its firm, white flesh, the White Margate is targeted by both commercial and artisanal fisheries, especially in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. The top countries harvesting White Margate include Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean nations, where the species forms an important part of local diets and fish markets. While not a major export commodity compared to larger pelagic species, White Margate supports small-scale fisheries using handlines, traps, and nets, contributing to food security and livelihoods in the region. Sustainable management is vital, as overfishing and habitat degradation can threaten local populations.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.