The Republic of Korea (South Korea) boasts a dynamic and highly developed fishing industry, historically vital to its coastal communities and national economy. The country’s top fish catches include anchovy, mackerel, squid, hairtail, and yellow croaker, with anchovy and mackerel being particularly significant both for domestic consumption and export. South Korea’s fishing industry has evolved from traditional small-scale coastal fisheries to a modern sector characterized by advanced aquaculture, deep-sea fishing fleets, and seafood processing. Since the 1960s, government support and technological innovation have fueled industry growth, making South Korea one of the world’s leading seafood producers. Today, the industry balances challenges such as overfishing and international maritime disputes with efforts to promote sustainable practices and maintain its crucial role in Korean cuisine and culture.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skipjack tuna | 194,867 |
| 2 | Japanese anchovy | 132,151 |
| 3 | Pacific chub mackerel | 110,795 |
| 4 | Yellowfin tuna | 55,715 |
| 5 | Largehead hairtail | 54,000 |
| 6 | Argentine shortfin squid | 48,093 |
| 7 | Tuna-like fishes nei | 43,608 |
| 8 | Japanese jack mackerel | 37,732 |
| 9 | Japanese flying squid | 36,549 |
| 10 | Japanese Spanish mackerel | 35,654 |
| 11 | Antarctic krill | 30,896 |
| 12 | Pacific herring | 27,806 |
| 13 | Tanner crabs nei | 26,634 |
| 14 | Akiami paste shrimp | 24,566 |
| 15 | Pacific cupped oyster | 22,994 |
| 16 | Gazami crab | 21,809 |
| 17 | Amberjacks nei | 21,230 |
| 18 | Pacific sandlance | 21,049 |
| 19 | Bigeye tuna | 20,624 |
| 20 | Marine fishes nei | 20,288 |
| 21 | Yellow striped flounder | 19,324 |
| 22 | Yellow croaker | 16,400 |
| 23 | Octopuses, etc. nei | 16,069 |
| 24 | Japanese carpet shell | 14,996 |
| 25 | Croakers, drums nei | 14,510 |
| 26 | Anglerfishes nei | 12,823 |
| 27 | Whitespotted conger | 12,733 |
| 28 | Pacific sardine | 12,030 |
| 29 | Gastropods nei | 9,062 |
| 30 | Chinese gizzard shad | 7,782 |
| 31 | Butterfishes, pomfrets nei | 7,750 |
| 32 | Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei | 7,263 |
| 33 | Rays, stingrays, mantas nei | 6,998 |
| 34 | Clams, etc. nei | 5,761 |
| 35 | Pacific cod | 5,678 |
| 36 | Sea mussels nei | 5,112 |
| 37 | Wakame | 5,000 |
| 38 | Natantian decapods nei | 4,987 |
| 39 | Flathead grey mullet | 4,887 |
| 40 | Puffers nei | 4,087 |
| 41 | Marine crabs nei | 3,761 |
| 42 | Porgies, seabreams nei | 3,406 |
| 43 | Echinoderms | 3,294 |
| 44 | Scorpionfishes, redfishes nei | 3,259 |
| 45 | Bastard halibut | 3,208 |
| 46 | Patagonian squid | 3,143 |
| 47 | Argentine hake | 3,009 |
| 48 | Freshwater fishes nei | 2,700 |
| 49 | Patagonian toothfish | 2,515 |
| 50 | Horned turban | 2,426 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.