New Zealand’s fishing industry is a cornerstone of its economy and culture, renowned for both its commercial and recreational sectors. The country’s vast exclusive economic zone, one of the world’s largest, teems with valuable species such as hoki, snapper, southern blue whiting, orange roughy, and rock lobster. Hoki is the top commercial catch, widely exported and a key ingredient in global processed seafood products. Snapper, prized for its taste, dominates recreational fishing. The industry’s roots stretch back to Māori traditions, with European settlers expanding commercial operations in the 19th century. Today, New Zealand is recognized for its sustainable fisheries management, notably the Quota Management System introduced in 1986, which balances economic gain with conservation, ensuring that its rich marine resources endure for future generations.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue grenadier | 92,475 |
| 2 | Jack and horse mackerels nei | 38,630 |
| 3 | Wellington flying squid | 32,442 |
| 4 | Southern blue whiting | 23,381 |
| 5 | Snoek | 18,928 |
| 6 | Pink cusk-eel | 16,335 |
| 7 | Blue mackerel | 12,762 |
| 8 | Orange roughy | 10,060 |
| 9 | Oreo dories nei | 8,967 |
| 10 | Silver warehou | 8,391 |
| 11 | Silver seabream | 6,846 |
| 12 | Picked dogfish | 5,318 |
| 13 | Morwongs | 3,872 |
| 14 | Bluefin gurnard | 3,533 |
| 15 | Thorntooth grenadier | 3,229 |
| 16 | Carangids nei | 3,134 |
| 17 | Southern hake | 2,946 |
| 18 | Red rock lobster | 2,768 |
| 19 | Giant stargazer | 2,739 |
| 20 | Red codling | 2,670 |
| 21 | Silver scabbardfish | 2,631 |
| 22 | Albacore | 2,460 |
| 23 | Tope shark | 2,370 |
| 24 | Silver gemfish | 2,216 |
| 25 | Australian salmon | 2,060 |
| 26 | Alfonsinos nei | 2,013 |
| 27 | Common warehou | 1,877 |
| 28 | New Zealand blue cod | 1,616 |
| 29 | Cape bonnetmouth | 1,579 |
| 30 | Spotted estuary smooth-hound | 1,464 |
| 31 | Flatfishes nei | 1,362 |
| 32 | New Zealand lobster | 1,182 |
| 33 | Ghost shark | 1,102 |
| 34 | Stutchbury's venus | 1,098 |
| 35 | Mullets nei | 985 |
| 36 | Dark ghost shark | 980 |
| 37 | Sea urchins, etc. nei | 944 |
| 38 | Rough skate | 932 |
| 39 | Hapuku wreckfish | 931 |
| 39 | Skipjack tuna | 931 |
| 41 | Southern bluefin tuna | 875 |
| 42 | Common mora | 846 |
| 43 | White warehou | 836 |
| 44 | Rosefishes nei | 811 |
| 45 | Chilean oyster | 782 |
| 46 | Atlantic pomfret | 766 |
| 47 | Ratfishes nei | 761 |
| 48 | Abalones nei | 731 |
| 49 | Slender tuna | 587 |
| 50 | New Zealand smooth skate | 561 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.