Top Sao Tome And Principe Fish Catches

Sao Tome and Principe, an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, boasts a fishing industry that is vital for local livelihoods and food security. The country’s top fish catches include tuna (notably skipjack and yellowfin), mackerel, barracuda, and various species of snapper and grouper. Artisanal fishing dominates, with small wooden boats and traditional techniques supplying both domestic markets and, to a lesser extent, regional export. The fishing industry has deep historical roots, dating back to the islands’ early settlement, and has evolved from subsistence to small-scale commercial operations. While the sector faces challenges such as overfishing and limited infrastructure, efforts are ongoing to modernize fleets and improve sustainability, recognizing the crucial role of fisheries in Sao Tome and Principe’s economy and culture.

Rank	Fish Species	Metric Tons
1	Flyingfishes nei	736
2	Frigate tuna	461
3	Jacks, crevalles nei	391
4	Atlantic emperor	347
5	Halfbeaks nei	324
6	Amberjacks nei	257
7	Marlins,sailfishes,etc. nei	253
8	Atlantic sailfish	224
9	Large-eye dentex	181
10	Tuna-like fishes nei	151
11	Bigeye tuna	149
12	Golden African snapper	134
13	Gorean snapper	128
13	Scads nei	128
15	Flying gurnard	125
16	Bluespotted seabream	122
17	Skipjack tuna	120
18	Rainbow runner	115
19	Pompano dolphinfish	101
20	European barracuda	93
21	Dusky grouper	78
21	Barracudas nei	78
23	Smooth puffer	75
23	Blue marlin	75
25	Marine molluscs nei	73
26	Squirrelfish	62
27	Dungat grouper	61
27	Groupers nei	61
29	Wahoo	60
29	Atlantic rubyfish	60
31	African forktail snapper	43
32	Sardinellas nei	41
33	White grouper	37
33	Bigeye trevally	37
35	Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj)	35
36	West African Spanish mackerel	34
37	Crevalle jack	28
38	Atlantic white marlin	27
39	Threadfins, tasselfishes nei	24
39	Yellowfin tuna	24
41	Bluespotted seabass	23
41	Cephalopods nei	23
43	Rock hind	22
44	Horse-eye jack	21
44	Common dolphinfish	21
46	Swordfish	11
46	Pandoras nei	11
48	Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei	9
49	Red scorpionfish	5
49	African red snapper	5

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