Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, boasts a rich and diverse fishing industry centered on both its Caribbean coastline and extensive inland waters. The country’s top fish catches include sardines (Sardinella aurita), which are the most significant in terms of volume, along with mackerel, tuna, shrimp, and various demersal species such as snappers and groupers. Historically, Venezuela’s fishing industry expanded rapidly in the mid-20th century, driven by both artisanal and industrial fleets, and became a vital source of employment and export revenue. The sardine fishery, in particular, has long been the backbone of domestic consumption and local economies. While the sector has faced challenges in recent decades due to overfishing, economic instability, and resource management issues, fishing remains an important livelihood for coastal communities and continues to contribute to the nation’s food security and export earnings.
Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
---|---|---|
1 | Round sardinella | 80,765 |
2 | Yellowfin tuna | 41,248 |
3 | Ark clams nei | 19,150 |
4 | Skipjack tuna | 6,680 |
5 | Blue crab | 4,690 |
6 | Largehead hairtail | 3,125 |
7 | Whitemouth croaker | 1,925 |
8 | Flathead grey mullet | 1,855 |
9 | Common snook | 1,810 |
10 | Southern stingray | 1,690 |
11 | Southern white shrimp | 1,640 |
12 | Lebranche mullet | 1,630 |
13 | Crevalle jack | 1,600 |
14 | Acoupa weakfish | 1,520 |
15 | Freshwater siluroids nei | 1,505 |
16 | Characins nei | 1,355 |
17 | Rough scad | 1,280 |
18 | Corocoro grunt | 1,270 |
19 | Madamango sea catfish | 1,220 |
20 | Yellow jack | 1,205 |
20 | Tiger sorubim | 1,205 |
22 | Atlantic chub mackerel | 1,135 |
23 | Bar jack | 1,065 |
24 | Barred sorubim | 1,020 |
25 | Bigeye tuna | 919 |
26 | South American silver croaker | 790 |
27 | Crucifix sea catfish | 785 |
28 | Silver mylossoma | 780 |
29 | Laulao catfish | 595 |
30 | Serra Spanish mackerel | 580 |
31 | Vermilion snapper | 555 |
32 | King weakfish | 545 |
33 | Pirapatinga | 525 |
34 | Trahira | 475 |
35 | Netted prochilod | 465 |
36 | Jamaica weakfish | 435 |
37 | Green weakfish | 425 |
38 | Redtail catfish | 420 |
39 | Southern red snapper | 410 |
40 | Grunts, sweetlips nei | 405 |
41 | Lane snapper | 395 |
42 | King mackerel | 380 |
43 | Tuna-like fishes nei | 360 |
44 | Highwaterman catfish | 340 |
45 | Gilded catfish | 335 |
45 | Mojarras, etc. nei | 335 |
47 | Atlantic moonfish | 330 |
48 | Gafftopsail sea catfish | 325 |
49 | Albacore | 317 |
50 | Flatwhiskered catfish | 315 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.