Top Angola Fish Catches

Angola’s fishing industry is one of the most significant in West Africa, both for its economic contribution and the diversity of its marine resources. The country’s Atlantic coastline is rich in fish, with top commercial catches including sardines (Sardinella spp.), horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), and anchovies (Engraulidae family), which are vital for both local consumption and export. Historically, Angola’s fishing sector thrived during the colonial period, but the industry suffered greatly during the civil war (1975–2002), leading to depleted stocks and damaged infrastructure. In recent decades, Angola has invested in rebuilding its fishing fleets and processing facilities, and today, the industry is a major employer and source of protein for the population. Sustainable management and modernization efforts continue as Angola seeks to balance economic growth with the preservation of its rich marine biodiversity.

Rank	Fish Species	Metric Tons
1	Sardinellas nei	197,670
2	Cunene horse mackerel	105,021
3	Cape horse mackerel	44,679
4	Flatfishes nei	27,537
5	Freshwater fishes nei	22,962
6	Large-eye dentex	14,180
7	Shallow-water Cape hake	13,996
8	West African croakers nei	8,454
9	John dory	7,238
10	Threadfins, tasselfishes nei	5,301
11	Striped red shrimp	3,194
12	Marine crabs nei	2,562
13	Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj)	2,534
14	West African Spanish mackerel	2,377
15	Bigeye grunt	2,013
16	Pargo breams nei	2,009
17	Atlantic bonito	1,840
18	Yellowfin tuna	1,609
19	Skipjack tuna	869
20	Groupers nei	634
21	Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei	472
22	Various squids nei	386
23	Sea catfishes nei	341
24	Deep-water rose shrimp	317
25	West coast sole	294
26	Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei	263
27	Rays, stingrays, mantas nei	219
28	Sand steenbras	203
29	Octopuses, etc. nei	158
30	Lobsters nei	4

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