Top Yellowfin Sole Fishing Countries

The yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera) is a flatfish species native to the cold waters of the North Pacific, particularly the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. Renowned for its mild flavor and delicate texture, yellowfin sole is a staple in commercial fisheries. The top countries harvesting yellowfin sole are the United States and Russia, whose fleets operate primarily in the Bering Sea and adjacent northern Pacific waters. The U.S. fishery, centered in Alaska, is one of the world’s largest and most sustainably managed flatfish fisheries, with strict quotas and bycatch controls. Russia also maintains a significant yellowfin sole industry, focusing on the western Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. Together, these countries account for the vast majority of global yellowfin sole landings, supplying both domestic and international markets with this valuable whitefish.

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