Squat lobsters can be found worldwide, often in high abundance, which makes them a potentially commercial fishery resource. Despite this favourable situation, well-established fisheries are currently found exclusively in Latin America, especially in Chile. Other countries (Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand) have intensively studied the ecology of squat lobsters and recognised their potential as a fishery resource but, for various reasons, no commercial exploitation has been implemented so far. We compiled available information about target species, fishing methods, fishery statistics and management as well as by-catch of squat lobster fisheries in Central American countries and Chile. Target species are Pleuroncodes monodon and P. planipes in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama, and in Chile, P. monodon and Cervimunida johni. Finally, we present a brief compilation of information about squat lobsters in other countries, where these decapods are recognised as a potential fishery resource.