Top Equatorial Guinea Fish Catches

Equatorial Guinea’s fishing industry, though relatively small compared to other West African nations, plays a vital role in local food security and livelihoods, especially in coastal communities. The country’s top fish catches include species such as sardinella, mackerel, tuna, and barracuda, with artisanal fishers primarily targeting small pelagic fish and demersal species along the continental shelf. Historically, fishing in Equatorial Guinea has been dominated by small-scale, traditional methods, with limited development of industrial fleets. In recent decades, the government has sought to modernize the sector and attract foreign investment, but challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited cold storage, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing persist. Despite these hurdles, fish remains a staple in the local diet, and the sector continues to offer employment and economic opportunities for coastal populations.

Rank	Fish Species	Metric Tons
1	Clupeoids nei	4,095
2	Freshwater fishes nei	1,050
3	Marine fishes nei	475
4	Croakers, drums nei	190
5	Flatfishes nei	160
6	Pelagic percomorphs nei	95
7	Benguela hake	75
7	Porgies, seabreams nei	75
9	Lesser African threadfin	65
10	African sicklefish	60
11	Flyingfishes nei	45
12	Rays, stingrays, mantas nei	35
13	Barracudas nei	30
14	Largehead hairtail	25
14	West African ilisha	25
16	Tropical spiny lobsters nei	20
17	Various squids nei	15
17	Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei	15
19	Royal threadfin	10
19	Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj)	10
23	Octopuses, etc. nei	5
23	Sea catfishes nei	5
23	Demersal percomorphs nei	5
23	Bigeye tuna	5
23	Wahoo	5
23	Atlantic chub mackerel	5
27	Atlantic bonito	4
27	Yellowfin tuna	4
29	Frigate tuna	1
29	Skipjack tuna	1

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