Madagascar’s fishing industry is a vital sector for its economy and coastal communities, with both artisanal and industrial operations targeting the country’s rich marine biodiversity. The top fish catches include shrimp (notably Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus monoceros), tuna (yellowfin and bigeye), and various demersal species such as grouper, snapper, and emperor fish. Madagascar’s extensive coastline and productive waters in the Mozambique Channel support these fisheries, which have historically provided food security and export revenue since the colonial era. While traditional fishing has long been practiced by local communities, industrial fisheries expanded in the 20th century, focusing on high-value export species like shrimp and tuna. Today, Madagascar’s fishing industry faces challenges such as overfishing, illegal fishing, and the need for sustainable management to preserve its valuable marine resources.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marine fishes nei | 60,866 |
| 2 | Cephalopods nei | 13,217 |
| 3 | Natantian decapods nei | 11,552 |
| 4 | Freshwater fishes nei | 9,107 |
| 5 | Cichlids nei | 6,830 |
| 6 | Marine crabs nei | 6,323 |
| 7 | Marine molluscs nei | 6,035 |
| 8 | Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel | 3,762 |
| 9 | Cyprinids nei | 2,277 |
| 10 | Kawakawa | 1,077 |
| 11 | Sea cucumbers nei | 983 |
| 12 | Indo-Pacific sailfish | 843 |
| 13 | Skipjack tuna | 834 |
| 14 | Red seaweeds | 800 |
| 15 | Longtail tuna | 724 |
| 16 | Yellowfin tuna | 704 |
| 17 | Tropical spiny lobsters nei | 692 |
| 18 | Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei | 363 |
| 19 | Indo-Pacific king mackerel | 99 |
| 20 | Bigeye tuna | 56 |
| 21 | Albacore | 23 |
| 22 | Swordfish | 21 |
| 23 | Striped marlin | 3 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.