Top Yellow Edged Lyretail Fishing Countries

The Yellow Edged Lyretail (Variola louti), also known as the lyretail grouper, is a striking reef fish recognized by its vibrant reddish body adorned with yellow-edged fins and a lyre-shaped tail. This species inhabits coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Western Pacific islands. The lyretail grouper is prized both as a commercial food fish and in the live reef fish trade, particularly in Southeast Asia. The top fishing countries harvesting the Yellow Edged Lyretail include Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and, to a lesser extent, countries around the Arabian Peninsula such as Oman and Yemen. These nations utilize both artisanal and commercial fishing methods to supply local markets and, notably, the lucrative export demand in Hong Kong and mainland China, where the species is highly valued for its delicate flesh and is often served in upscale restaurants. Overfishing and habitat degradation, however, have raised concerns about the sustainability of lyretail grouper populations in many regions.

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