Nicaragua’s fishing industry is centered around its abundant freshwater lakes, rivers, and access to both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, making it a diverse hub for both commercial and artisanal fishing. The country’s top catches include freshwater species such as guapote (rainbow bass), tilapia, and mojarra from Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua, while coastal waters yield valuable marine species like shrimp, lobster, snapper, and mahi-mahi. Historically, fishing in Nicaragua has been a vital source of livelihood and food security, with indigenous communities relying on traditional methods for centuries. The industry expanded in the 20th century with the development of export markets, particularly for shrimp and lobster, which remain key export commodities. Despite challenges such as overfishing and environmental concerns, Nicaragua’s fishing sector continues to play an important role in the national economy and local communities.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yellowfin tuna | 8,945 |
| 2 | Skipjack tuna | 7,741 |
| 3 | Stromboid conchs nei | 6,645 |
| 4 | Sea cucumbers nei | 6,371 |
| 5 | Marine fishes nei | 6,253 |
| 6 | Snappers nei | 3,184 |
| 7 | Caribbean spiny lobster | 3,070 |
| 8 | Penaeus shrimps nei | 2,477 |
| 9 | Bigeye tuna | 2,048 |
| 10 | Sea catfishes nei | 886 |
| 11 | Snooks(=Robalos) nei | 856 |
| 12 | Blue crab | 745 |
| 13 | Pacific sierra | 512 |
| 14 | Spotted rose snapper | 494 |
| 15 | Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei | 479 |
| 16 | Grunts, sweetlips nei | 389 |
| 17 | Weakfishes nei | 378 |
| 18 | Cichlids nei | 369 |
| 19 | Groupers, seabasses nei | 320 |
| 20 | Rays, stingrays, mantas nei | 288 |
| 21 | Carangids nei | 163 |
| 22 | Green spiny lobster | 156 |
| 23 | Red pike conger | 145 |
| 24 | Tilapias nei | 144 |
| 25 | Machaca | 107 |
| 26 | Flatfishes nei | 100 |
| 27 | Jellyfishes nei | 88 |
| 28 | Black skipjack | 66 |
| 29 | Marlins,sailfishes,etc. nei | 57 |
| 30 | Clupeoids nei | 53 |
| 31 | Jaguar guapote | 43 |
| 32 | Parrotfishes nei | 28 |
| 33 | Common dolphinfish | 27 |
| 33 | Marine crabs nei | 27 |
| 35 | Freshwater fishes nei | 22 |
| 36 | Seerfishes nei | 18 |
| 37 | Octopuses, etc. nei | 16 |
| 38 | Tropical gar | 9 |
| 39 | Various squids nei | 6 |
| 40 | Marine molluscs nei | 4 |
| 41 | Mangrove cupped oyster | 2 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.