Thailand’s fishing industry is one of the largest and most vital in Southeast Asia, both for domestic consumption and export. The country’s coastal waters and extensive river systems support a diverse array of fish species, with top catches including mackerel, tuna, anchovy, sardine, and various types of shrimp and squid. Inland, the Mekong giant catfish and snakehead are notable species. The industry dates back centuries, with traditional fishing communities relying on artisanal methods, but it expanded rapidly in the 20th century with the advent of industrial trawlers and aquaculture. Today, Thailand is a global leader in seafood exports, particularly canned tuna and shrimp, though the industry faces challenges such as overfishing, labor issues, and the need for sustainable practices.
Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
---|---|---|
1 | Marine fishes nei | 452,994 |
2 | Anchovies, etc. nei | 154,364 |
3 | Sardinellas nei | 78,201 |
4 | Common squids nei | 70,616 |
5 | Indian mackerels nei | 48,828 |
6 | Freshwater fishes nei | 45,686 |
7 | Indian scad | 41,926 |
8 | Blue swimming crab | 39,332 |
9 | Indian mackerel | 34,041 |
10 | Carangids nei | 29,015 |
11 | Threadfin breams nei | 28,142 |
12 | Sergestid shrimps nei | 27,485 |
13 | Longtail tuna | 25,409 |
14 | Silver barb | 20,258 |
15 | Lizardfishes nei | 19,545 |
16 | Kawakawa | 19,219 |
17 | Nile tilapia | 17,218 |
18 | Bigeye scad | 14,198 |
19 | Torpedo scad | 12,185 |
20 | Banana prawn | 11,477 |
21 | Estuarine crocodile | 11,014 |
22 | Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei | 10,674 |
23 | Siamese crocodile | 10,429 |
24 | Bigeyes nei | 9,886 |
25 | Barracudas nei | 9,567 |
26 | Seerfishes nei | 8,599 |
27 | Mullets nei | 8,363 |
28 | Octopuses, etc. nei | 8,050 |
29 | Penaeus shrimps nei | 7,245 |
30 | Bigfin reef squid | 7,126 |
31 | Monocle breams | 7,099 |
32 | Marine molluscs nei | 6,857 |
33 | Croakers, drums nei | 6,823 |
34 | Striped snakehead | 6,068 |
35 | Marine crabs nei | 6,051 |
36 | Metapenaeus shrimps nei | 5,673 |
37 | Snappers, jobfishes nei | 5,630 |
38 | Aquatic invertebrates nei | 5,261 |
39 | Jellyfishes nei | 4,592 |
40 | Torpedo-shaped catfishes nei | 4,455 |
41 | Skipjack tuna | 4,312 |
42 | Threadfins, tasselfishes nei | 3,896 |
43 | Frigate tuna | 3,702 |
44 | Blood cockle | 3,638 |
45 | Sea catfishes nei | 3,391 |
46 | Largehead hairtail | 3,344 |
47 | Pangas catfishes nei | 3,240 |
48 | Groupers, seabasses nei | 3,077 |
49 | Indo-Pacific swamp crab | 2,839 |
50 | Climbing perch | 2,614 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.