Japan's fishing industry is one of the largest and most technologically advanced in the world, deeply woven into the nation’s culture and economy. Historically, Japan has relied on the sea for sustenance, with fishing villages dating back thousands of years. The country’s top fish catches include species such as Pacific saury (sanma), sardine, mackerel, skipjack tuna (katsuo), and Alaska pollock, along with squid and various shellfish. Japan is also famous for its tuna fisheries, especially bluefin tuna, which is highly prized for sushi and sashimi. The industry has evolved from traditional coastal fishing to include large-scale offshore and distant-water fleets, making Japan a major player in global fisheries. However, overfishing and international regulations have prompted Japan to invest in sustainable practices and aquaculture to secure the future of its fishing heritage.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacific sardine | 613,200 |
| 2 | Yesso scallop | 340,000 |
| 3 | Pacific chub mackerel | 315,900 |
| 4 | Skipjack tuna | 171,487 |
| 5 | Marine fishes nei | 170,808 |
| 6 | Alaska pollock(=Walleye poll.) | 160,200 |
| 7 | Japanese anchovy | 135,100 |
| 8 | Japanese jack mackerel | 99,700 |
| 9 | Amberjacks nei | 92,800 |
| 10 | Chum(=Keta=Dog) salmon | 89,694 |
| 11 | Red-eye round herring | 64,700 |
| 12 | Pacific cod | 57,500 |
| 13 | Yellowfin tuna | 48,519 |
| 14 | Clupeoids nei | 42,800 |
| 15 | Japanese kelp | 40,900 |
| 16 | Flatfishes nei | 35,400 |
| 17 | Okhotsk atka mackerel | 35,300 |
| 18 | Japanese flying squid | 29,700 |
| 19 | Bigeye tuna | 28,130 |
| 20 | Various squids nei | 24,400 |
| 21 | Albacore | 22,913 |
| 22 | Clams, etc. nei | 22,900 |
| 23 | Octopuses, etc. nei | 22,200 |
| 24 | Pacific herring | 20,600 |
| 25 | Pacific saury | 18,400 |
| 26 | Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei | 16,782 |
| 27 | Aquatic plants nei | 15,700 |
| 28 | Silver seabream | 15,600 |
| 29 | Japanese scad | 15,100 |
| 30 | Red snow crab | 12,300 |
| 31 | Natantian decapods nei | 11,600 |
| 32 | Marine crustaceans nei | 10,800 |
| 33 | Japanese Spanish mackerel | 10,300 |
| 34 | Pacific bluefin tuna | 10,113 |
| 35 | Porgies, seabreams nei | 8,400 |
| 36 | Japanese corbicula | 8,313 |
| 37 | Largehead hairtail | 6,900 |
| 37 | Sea urchins nei | 6,900 |
| 39 | Aquatic invertebrates nei | 6,752 |
| 40 | Swordfish | 6,677 |
| 41 | Frigate and bullet tunas | 6,600 |
| 42 | Puffers nei | 6,300 |
| 43 | Southern bluefin tuna | 6,013 |
| 44 | Bastard halibut | 5,900 |
| 45 | Japanese carpet shell | 5,700 |
| 46 | Japanese seabass | 5,400 |
| 47 | Japanese sea cucumber | 5,100 |
| 48 | Atlantic bluefin tuna | 5,031 |
| 49 | Horned turban | 4,000 |
| 50 | Neon flying squid | 3,600 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.