Top 10 Common Types of Fish
A list of the world’s most numerous and widespread fish species. Fish are found in almost every body of water on the planet. They may be found in almost every aquatic environment, from the deepest parts of the ocean to high mountain streams. Today, about 33,600 fish species have been identified. Fish are an essential resource for humans all around the world, particularly as a source of food.
Fish have been influential in human culture since time immemorial, functioning as religious symbols, deities, and film and book subjects. The majority of fish are ectothermic, which means they have cold blood and can adjust their body temperature in response to temperature changes. The core temperatures of some of the world’s biggest fish, such as the white shark, are higher.
The World’s Most Common Types of Fish
Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)
With a commercial catch of 5,028,661 tons per year, grass carp has the world’s largest aquaculture population. This freshwater fish is indigenous to eastern Asia, including northern Vietnam and the Amur River on the Siberian-Chinese border. The relatively large fish was introduced to Europe and the United States to help control aquatic weeds. It is heat resilient, reproducing and spawning at temperatures ranging from 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. China is the leading producer of Grass Carp, which is popular in aquaculture because it grows quickly and requires little dietary protein.
Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis ringens)
The Peruvian anchoveta is a fish species found in the Pacific Ocean’s south-eastern region. It is the world’s second most fished fish species, with yearly catches ranging from 4.2 to 8.3 million tons. The fish is one of the most overfished in the world, with a record catch of 13.1 million tons in 1971. Its population, however, has been declining over time, owing mostly to overfishing.
Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Silver carps are very popular aquarium fish. It is also known as the flying fish, and in some locations, it is considered invasive. The fish is endemic to eastern Siberia and China, and it is one of the most prolific, with an annual commercial catch of 4.2 million tons. The fish may grow to a maximum of 55 inches in length and an average length of 24 to 39 inches. It can carry a maximum of 110 pounds. The fish is a filter feeder with specialized feeding equipment that can filter particles as small as 4 microns. The fish have no stomach and rely almost exclusively on phytoplankton to thrive. Zooplankton and detritus are also devoured.
READ MORE: The Longest Rivers in the World
Overfishing
Overfishing has been a big concern for a long time. Indeed, if current fishing rates continue, the world may run out of fish in the not-too-distant future. According to FAOSTAT, almost 90% of the world’s fish stocks are either overfished or entirely exploited. According to FAO data, global per capita fish consumption is at an all-time high due to rising demand, with each person consuming an average of 44 pounds of fish per year, up from 22 pounds per person in the 1960s.
59% of all fish populations in the Black and Mediterranean Seas are being overexploited. Furthermore, exotic fish species have proliferated in the region as a result of climate change, which has harmed local fish.
The World’s Most Common Types of Fish
| Rank | Fish | Commercial Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grass carp | 5,028,661 |
| 2 | Peruvian anchoveta | 4,692,855 |
| 3 | Silver carp | 4,189,578 |
| 4 | Common carp | 3,791,913 |
| 5 | Alaska pollock | 3,271,426 |
| 6 | Nile tilapia | 3,197,330 |
| 7 | Whiteleg shrimp | 3,178,721 |
| 8 | Bighead carp | 2,898,816 |
| 9 | Skipjack tuna | 2,795,339 |
| 10 | Catla | 2,761,022 |