|
Fishes Used by Humans (based on FishBase 02/2026)
|
| |
Species |
Families |
Remarks
|
| n |
% |
n |
% |
| Extant fishes |
36,535 |
100.0 |
635 |
100.0 |
|
| Used in fisheries |
7,464 |
20.4 |
455 |
71.7 |
Industrial and artisanal fisheries. |
| Used in Aquaculture |
361 |
1.0 |
96 |
15.1 |
Commercially used for aquaculture, either for food or stock enhancement. |
| Used as bait |
205 |
0.6 |
61 |
9.6 |
Used as bait fishes. |
| In ornamental trade |
3,250 |
8.9 |
220 |
34.6 |
Commercial aquarium species. |
| marine |
1,321 |
| freshwater |
1,929 |
| mainly bred |
709 |
| Used as sport fish |
1,414 |
3.9 |
231 |
36.4 |
Game fishes. |
| Total used by humans |
8,213 |
22.5 |
467 |
73.5 |
Used in fisheries, aquaculture, as bait, ornamental, or game fish. |
|
| Fishes Affected by Humans |
|
| Extinct |
97 |
0.3 |
25 |
3.9 |
Extinct fishes in IUCN Red List (see categories at the page bottom). |
| Threatened |
3,895 |
10.7 |
274 |
43.1 |
Threatened fishes in IUCN Red List (see categories at the page bottom). |
| Introduced |
934 |
2.6 |
198 |
31.2 |
Transferred to and established in another country |
|
| Fishes Affecting Humans |
|
| Dangerous |
1,075 |
2.9 |
151 |
23.8 |
Poisonous, venomous, traumatogenic, pests, etc. |
|
| Note: The above numbers are based on the reported use of fishes, i.e., each record has a reference. The number for Fisheries is underestimated because many species that are important in artisanal fisheries are not reported in the literature. The same is true for bait fishes. |
