Top Philippines Fish Catches

The Philippines boasts one of the world’s most vibrant fishing industries, thanks to its archipelagic geography and rich marine biodiversity. The country’s top fish catches include sardines (tamban), tuna (notably yellowfin and skipjack), roundscad (galunggong), milkfish (bangus), and mackerel, which are vital both for local consumption and export. The fishing industry, comprising both commercial and small-scale (municipal) sectors, has been a cornerstone of Filipino livelihood for centuries, dating back to pre-colonial times when communities relied on traditional methods such as fish traps and nets. Today, the industry remains crucial, employing millions and contributing significantly to the national economy, though it faces challenges such as overfishing, habitat degradation, and the need for sustainable management practices to preserve its rich aquatic resources for future generations.

Rank	Fish Species	Metric Tons
1	Bali sardinella	280,509
2	Scads nei	176,598
3	Bigeye scad	112,744
4	Frigate and bullet tunas	84,013
5	Skipjack tuna	82,331
6	Yellowfin tuna	62,398
7	Common squids nei	57,303
8	Sardinellas nei	55,611
9	Stolephorus anchovies nei	52,994
10	Tilapias nei	52,126
11	Carangids nei	45,852
12	Indian mackerel	41,747
13	Threadfin breams nei	33,973
14	Ponyfishes(=Slipmouths) nei	33,920
15	Kawakawa	30,669
16	Freshwater molluscs nei	26,082
17	Blue swimming crab	25,508
18	Striped snakehead	21,643
19	Short mackerel	19,552
20	Spinefeet(=Rabbitfishes) nei	18,704
21	Goatfishes, red mullets nei	18,221
22	Penaeus shrimps nei	17,947
23	Fusiliers nei	17,816
24	Groupers, seabasses nei	17,628
25	Marine fishes nei	16,743
26	Cyprinids nei	16,641
27	Percoids nei	16,389
28	Snakeskin gourami	16,137
29	Sergestid shrimps nei	15,377
30	Torpedo scad	15,175
31	Flyingfishes nei	15,163
32	Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel	14,325
33	Sea catfishes nei	14,114
34	Needlefishes nei	13,649
35	Sillago-whitings	13,471
36	Snappers, jobfishes nei	13,006
37	Hairtails, scabbardfishes nei	12,720
38	Mullets nei	12,580
39	Wrasses, hogfishes, etc. nei	12,117
40	Gobies nei	12,105
41	Porgies, seabreams nei	11,144
42	Metapenaeus shrimps nei	10,238
43	Moonfish	9,784
44	Barracudas nei	8,612
45	Freshwater fishes nei	8,415
46	Octopuses, etc. nei	5,801
47	Rainbow sardine	5,736
48	Mojarras(=Silver-biddies) nei	5,533
49	Torpedo-shaped catfishes nei	5,488
50	Queenfishes	5,161

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.