The Canton and Enderbury Islands, part of the Phoenix Islands group in Kiribati, have historically had limited but notable fishing activity due to their remote location in the central Pacific Ocean. The fishing industry here is primarily small-scale and artisanal, with local fishers targeting species such as skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and various reef fish like groupers and snappers. In the past, these islands were occasionally visited by foreign tuna fishing fleets, but large-scale commercial operations have been minimal, especially since the establishment of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in 2008, which restricts most commercial fishing to preserve marine biodiversity. The islands' fishing history is thus characterized by subsistence and small-scale commercial efforts, with a focus on sustainable practices and conservation of the unique marine ecosystem.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.