Fishes Used by Humans
Fishes Used by Humans (based on FishBase 04/2025)
  Species Families  Remarks
n % n %
Extant fishes 36,130 100.0 632 100.0
Used in fisheries 7,464 20.7 457 72.3  Industrial and artisanal fisheries.
Used in Aquaculture 361 1.0 96 15.2  Commercially used for aquaculture, either for food or stock enhancement.
Used as bait 205 0.6 61 9.7  Used as bait fishes.
In ornamental trade 3,253 9.0 221 35.0  Commercial aquarium species.
     marine 1,323
     freshwater 1,930
     mainly bred 709
Used as sport fish 1,414 3.9 232 36.7  Game fishes.
Total used by humans 8,212 22.7 469 74.2  Used in fisheries, aquaculture, as bait, ornamental, or game fish.

Fishes Affected by Humans

  Extinct 97 0.3 25 4.0  Extinct fishes in IUCN Red List (see categories at the page bottom).
  Threatened 3,897 10.8 272 43.0  Threatened fishes in IUCN Red List (see categories at the page bottom).
  Introduced 934 2.6 199 31.5  Transferred to and established in another country

Fishes Affecting Humans

  Dangerous 1,077 3.0 152 24.1  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.
Number of fishes in FishBase as of 04/2025
n % Remarks
Species 36,130
Freshwater 17,368 48.1  includes freshwater and brackish, and freshwater only
Marine 17,982 49.8  includes marine only, marine and brackish, and brackish only
Diadromous 779 2.2

By Class

Class Common Name n Click to see the number of species per Class, Order and Family.
  Myxini Hagfishes 91
  Petromyzonti Lampreys 50
  Elasmobranchii Sharks and rays 1,286
  Holocephali Chimaeras 58
  Cladistii Bichirs 14
  Chondrostei Sturgeons 29
  Holostei Gars and bowfins 9
  Teleostei Teleosts 34,583
  Coelacanthi Lobe-finned fishes 2
  Dipneusti Lungfishes 6

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