Djibouti’s fishing industry is relatively small but vital for local consumption and livelihoods, centered primarily along its Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts. The country’s top fish catches include species such as groupers, snappers, emperors, barracudas, and tuna, as well as various types of sardines and mackerels. Traditionally, fishing in Djibouti has been artisanal, relying on small boats and simple gear, with communities passing down fishing techniques through generations. While the sector remains underdeveloped compared to neighboring countries, recent years have seen efforts to modernize and expand capacity, aiming to tap into the region’s rich marine biodiversity and increase exports. Nonetheless, challenges such as limited infrastructure, overfishing risks, and competition from foreign fleets persist, shaping the ongoing evolution of Djibouti’s fishing industry.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Longtail tuna | 708 |
| 2 | Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel | 222 |
| 3 | Kawakawa | 214 |
| 4 | Requiem sharks nei | 176 |
| 5 | Talang queenfish | 164 |
| 6 | Carangids nei | 161 |
| 7 | Bigeye trevally | 152 |
| 8 | Orangespotted trevally | 143 |
| 9 | Pickhandle barracuda | 127 |
| 10 | Great barracuda | 119 |
| 11 | Sky emperor | 116 |
| 12 | Bluespot mullet | 86 |
| 13 | Groupers nei | 68 |
| 14 | Greater amberjack | 59 |
| 15 | Cobia | 53 |
| 16 | Sharptooth jobfish | 45 |
| 16 | Two-spot red snapper | 45 |
| 18 | Marlins,sailfishes,etc. nei | 44 |
| 19 | Yellowfin tuna | 35 |
| 20 | Giant trevally | 30 |
| 21 | Mangrove red snapper | 28 |
| 21 | Camouflage grouper | 28 |
| 23 | Marine fishes nei | 25 |
| 24 | Brownspotted grouper | 16 |
| 25 | Barracudas nei | 13 |
| 26 | Rays, stingrays, mantas nei | 10 |
| 27 | Snappers nei | 9 |
| 28 | Tuna-like fishes nei | 8 |
| 28 | Areolate grouper | 8 |
| 30 | Largehead hairtail | 7 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.