The Midway Islands, located in the North Pacific Ocean, are renowned for their rich marine biodiversity, though large-scale commercial fishing is limited due to their status as a national wildlife refuge under U.S. jurisdiction. Historically, the surrounding waters have been important for tuna, particularly yellowfin and bigeye tuna, as well as skipjack, which were targeted by longline and purse seine fisheries operating in the broader Pacific region. In earlier decades, Japanese and American fishing fleets frequented these waters, but since the establishment of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in 1988, commercial fishing has been largely prohibited to protect the unique ecosystem. Today, fishing activity is mostly restricted to scientific research and tightly regulated recreational angling, with top catches including various tuna species, wahoo, and giant trevally. The conservation-focused approach has helped preserve the Midway Islands’ marine life, making the area a sanctuary for both fish and seabirds.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.