Mexico’s fishing industry is a vital part of its economy and culture, with a rich history dating back to pre-Columbian times when indigenous peoples relied on coastal and inland fisheries. Today, Mexico is one of the leading fishing nations in Latin America, thanks to its extensive coastlines along both the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The top fish catches include Pacific sardine, tuna (especially yellowfin), shrimp, anchovy, and tilapia, with significant contributions from both commercial and artisanal fisheries. The industry supports millions of jobs and exports, particularly to the United States, while also facing challenges such as overfishing and the need for sustainable management. Mexico’s diverse marine environments continue to make it a hotspot for both commercial harvests and sportfishing tourism, especially for prized species like marlin, sailfish, and dorado (mahi-mahi).
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacific sardine | 342,643 |
| 2 | Californian anchovy | 337,702 |
| 3 | Pacific thread herring | 218,357 |
| 4 | Yellowfin tuna | 120,218 |
| 5 | Pacific anchoveta | 65,103 |
| 6 | Pacific chub mackerel | 56,232 |
| 7 | Cannonball jellyfish | 55,281 |
| 8 | Callinectes swimcrabs nei | 28,220 |
| 9 | Mexican four-eyed octopus | 27,139 |
| 10 | Blue shrimp | 26,174 |
| 11 | Marine fishes nei | 20,442 |
| 12 | Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei | 19,131 |
| 13 | North Pacific hake | 18,469 |
| 14 | Gastropods nei | 17,782 |
| 15 | Skipjack tuna | 14,190 |
| 16 | Weakfishes nei | 14,103 |
| 17 | Common octopus | 13,220 |
| 18 | Pacific sierra | 12,745 |
| 19 | Yellowleg shrimp | 12,483 |
| 20 | Jacks, crevalles nei | 12,351 |
| 21 | Northern brown shrimp | 10,010 |
| 22 | Milkfish | 9,656 |
| 23 | Groupers nei | 8,851 |
| 24 | Flathead grey mullet | 8,509 |
| 25 | Red-eye round herring | 7,263 |
| 26 | Common snook | 7,197 |
| 27 | Sea catfishes nei | 6,971 |
| 28 | Stingrays nei | 6,889 |
| 29 | Flatfishes nei | 6,810 |
| 30 | Cupped oysters nei | 6,701 |
| 31 | Pacific calico scallop | 6,552 |
| 32 | Grunts, sweetlips nei | 6,497 |
| 33 | Tilapias nei | 5,716 |
| 34 | Snappers nei | 5,714 |
| 35 | Northern red snapper | 4,791 |
| 36 | White mullet | 4,779 |
| 37 | Blue shark | 4,700 |
| 38 | Pacific red snapper | 4,391 |
| 39 | Black skipjack | 4,282 |
| 40 | Venus clams nei | 3,792 |
| 41 | Eastern Pacific bonito | 3,695 |
| 42 | Blue runner | 3,565 |
| 43 | Whiteleg shrimp | 3,398 |
| 44 | Freshwater fishes nei | 3,392 |
| 45 | Clams, etc. nei | 3,307 |
| 46 | Tropical spiny lobsters nei | 3,290 |
| 47 | Brazilian groupers nei | 3,253 |
| 48 | Pompanos nei | 3,216 |
| 49 | Common carp | 3,069 |
| 50 | Marine crabs nei | 2,881 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.