The Northern Mariana Islands, an archipelago in the western Pacific, have a small but vibrant fishing industry that primarily supports local consumption and recreational fishing rather than large-scale commercial export. The top fish catches in the region include skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi (dorado), wahoo, and various reef fish such as groupers and snappers. The islands’ waters are rich in pelagic species due to their proximity to deep ocean currents. Historically, fishing has been an integral part of the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian cultures, with traditional methods such as netting, spearfishing, and trolling passed down through generations. While commercial fishing is limited—mainly due to the islands’ remote location and small population—the industry remains a cornerstone of local food security and cultural identity, with sportfishing also attracting tourism to the islands.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skipjack tuna | 78 |
| 2 | Common dolphinfish | 15 |
| 3 | Bigeye scad | 9 |
| 4 | Parrotfishes nei | 7 |
| 4 | Deepwater longtail red snapper | 7 |
| 6 | Yellowfin tuna | 5 |
| 9 | Orangespine unicornfish | 3 |
| 9 | Wahoo | 3 |
| 9 | Surgeonfishes nei | 3 |
| 9 | Streamlined spinefoot | 3 |
| 9 | Goatfishes, red mullets nei | 3 |
| 14 | Kyphosus sea chubs nei | 2 |
| 14 | Bluespine unicornfish | 2 |
| 14 | Lavender jobfish | 2 |
| 14 | Emperors(=Scavengers) nei | 2 |
| 14 | Dogtooth tuna | 2 |
| 22 | Blue marlin | 1 |
| 22 | Marine fishes nei | 1 |
| 22 | Oblique-banded snapper | 1 |
| 22 | Deep-water red snapper | 1 |
| 22 | Carangids nei | 1 |
| 22 | Rainbow runner | 1 |
| 22 | Rusty jobfish | 1 |
| 22 | Kawakawa | 1 |
| 22 | Squirrelfishes nei | 1 |
| 22 | Tropical spiny lobsters nei | 1 |
| 22 | Common bluestripe snapper | 1 |
| 22 | Crimson jobfish | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.