Réunion, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, boasts a vibrant fishing industry deeply rooted in its island culture and economy. The island’s surrounding waters are rich in pelagic species, making big-game fishing a popular activity for both commercial and recreational fishers. Top catches include yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, wahoo, dorado (mahi-mahi), and various species of marlin, particularly blue and black marlin. Traditional artisanal fishing using small wooden boats, known as "canots," has long been a part of Réunion’s coastal communities, supplying local markets with fresh fish. In recent decades, the industry has modernized, with a focus on sustainable practices and the development of sport fishing tourism. Despite challenges from overfishing and competition with larger international fleets, Réunion’s fishing sector remains an important contributor to local food security and the island’s cultural heritage.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swordfish | 1,002 |
| 2 | Albacore | 533 |
| 3 | Yellowfin tuna | 508 |
| 4 | Blue marlin | 153 |
| 5 | Bigeye tuna | 140 |
| 6 | Common dolphinfish | 122 |
| 7 | Bigeye scad | 61 |
| 8 | Marine fishes nei | 50 |
| 9 | Black marlin | 27 |
| 10 | Brilliant pomfret | 24 |
| 11 | Wahoo | 18 |
| 12 | Indo-Pacific sailfish | 16 |
| 13 | Skipjack tuna | 9 |
| 14 | Shortfin mako | 6 |
| 15 | Shortbill spearfish | 5 |
| 16 | Deep-water red snapper | 3 |
| 16 | Goldbanded jobfish | 3 |
| 19 | Dogtooth tuna | 2 |
| 19 | Deepwater longtail red snapper | 2 |
| 19 | Scads nei | 2 |
| 25 | Striped marlin | 1 |
| 25 | Yellow-edged lyretail | 1 |
| 25 | Green jobfish | 1 |
| 25 | Kawakawa | 1 |
| 25 | Groupers nei | 1 |
| 25 | Emperors(=Scavengers) nei | 1 |
| 25 | Crimson jobfish | 1 |
| 25 | Common bluestripe snapper | 1 |
| 25 | Carangids nei | 1 |
| 25 | Great barracuda | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.