Eritrea’s fishing industry, though relatively small compared to its Red Sea neighbors, has significant potential due to the country’s 1,200-kilometer coastline along the Red Sea, which is rich in marine biodiversity. The top fish catches in Eritrea include species such as sardines, mackerel, groupers, snappers, and tuna, with sardines and mackerel being particularly important for both local consumption and export. Historically, Eritrea’s fishing sector was underdeveloped due to decades of conflict and limited infrastructure, but following independence in 1993, efforts have been made to rehabilitate and modernize the industry. The government has encouraged investment in fishing fleets and processing facilities, aiming to increase exports and provide livelihoods for coastal communities, while also focusing on sustainable fishing practices to preserve the rich marine resources of the Red Sea.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel | 262 |
| 2 | Carangids nei | 244 |
| 3 | Queenfishes | 234 |
| 4 | Lizardfishes nei | 170 |
| 5 | Sea catfishes nei | 154 |
| 6 | Groupers, seabasses nei | 81 |
| 7 | Silver grunt | 71 |
| 8 | Barracudas nei | 68 |
| 9 | Emperors(=Scavengers) nei | 52 |
| 10 | Milkfish | 39 |
| 11 | Penaeus shrimps nei | 36 |
| 12 | Lefteye flounders nei | 30 |
| 13 | Snappers, jobfishes nei | 27 |
| 14 | Mullets nei | 25 |
| 15 | Cobia | 22 |
| 16 | Indo-Pacific sailfish | 18 |
| 17 | Requiem sharks nei | 15 |
| 18 | Grunts, sweetlips nei | 10 |
| 19 | Marine fishes nei | 8 |
| 20 | Threadfin breams nei | 7 |
| 21 | Porgies, seabreams nei | 4 |
| 23 | Needlefishes, etc. nei | 2 |
| 23 | Guitarfishes, etc. nei | 2 |
| 23 | Small toothed jobfish | 2 |
| 23 | Malabar blood snapper | 2 |
| 27 | Minstrel sweetlips | 1 |
| 27 | Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei | 1 |
| 27 | Indian mackerel | 1 |
| 27 | Parrotfishes nei | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.