Nigeria’s fishing industry is a vital part of its economy and food supply, supporting millions of livelihoods along its extensive coastline, rivers, and inland water bodies. The country’s top fish catches include species such as catfish (Clarias gariepinus), tilapia, croaker, bonga shad (Ethmalosa fimbriata), and sardines, with catfish and tilapia being especially prominent due to their popularity in both capture fisheries and aquaculture. Historically, fishing in Nigeria has been practiced for centuries, primarily by artisanal fishers using traditional methods in rivers like the Niger and Benue, as well as in the coastal waters of the Atlantic. In recent decades, the industry has expanded with the growth of aquaculture, particularly catfish farming, making Nigeria one of Africa’s leading producers of farmed fish. Despite challenges such as overfishing, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure, the Nigerian fishing sector remains a crucial source of protein and employment for the nation.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tilapias nei | 62,418 |
| 2 | Marine fishes nei | 52,629 |
| 3 | Sardinellas nei | 48,199 |
| 4 | Bonga shad | 39,677 |
| 5 | Freshwater fishes nei | 39,211 |
| 6 | Giant African threadfin | 32,033 |
| 7 | Bagrid catfish | 31,689 |
| 8 | Elephantsnout fishes nei | 28,080 |
| 9 | Natantian decapods nei | 25,861 |
| 10 | North African catfish | 25,486 |
| 11 | Torpedo-shaped catfishes nei | 24,423 |
| 12 | African bonytongue | 23,374 |
| 13 | Barracudas nei | 21,850 |
| 14 | Cyprinids nei | 21,670 |
| 15 | Madeiran sardinella | 21,647 |
| 16 | West African croakers nei | 17,827 |
| 17 | Southern pink shrimp | 17,156 |
| 18 | Croakers, drums nei | 13,934 |
| 19 | Aba | 13,725 |
| 20 | Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei | 12,696 |
| 21 | Nile perch | 12,592 |
| 22 | Citharinus nei | 11,745 |
| 23 | Characins nei | 11,597 |
| 24 | Mullets nei | 11,199 |
| 25 | Sea catfishes nei | 10,883 |
| 26 | Upsidedown catfishes | 10,449 |
| 27 | Snappers nei | 10,142 |
| 28 | Lesser African threadfin | 9,335 |
| 29 | Tonguefishes | 8,726 |
| 30 | Naked catfishes | 8,596 |
| 31 | Snakeheads(=Murrels) nei | 8,377 |
| 32 | Grunts, sweetlips nei | 7,716 |
| 33 | Scorpionfishes, redfishes nei | 7,688 |
| 34 | Grass-eaters nei | 7,614 |
| 35 | Soles nei | 6,971 |
| 36 | African lungfishes | 6,342 |
| 37 | Blue butterfish | 6,162 |
| 38 | Rays, stingrays, mantas nei | 5,891 |
| 39 | Marine crabs nei | 5,313 |
| 40 | Tropical spiny lobsters nei | 4,836 |
| 41 | Groupers, seabasses nei | 4,289 |
| 42 | Gastropods nei | 4,115 |
| 43 | Kafue pike | 4,031 |
| 44 | Benguela hake | 3,634 |
| 45 | Largehead hairtail | 3,043 |
| 46 | Bigeye grunt | 3,037 |
| 47 | Mackerels nei | 2,985 |
| 48 | Glass schilbid | 2,441 |
| 49 | West African ladyfish | 2,269 |
| 49 | Hairtails, scabbardfishes nei | 2,269 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.