Top New Zealand Longfin Eel Fishing Countries

The New Zealand longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) is a unique, endemic freshwater eel species found only in New Zealand, renowned for its impressive lifespan—sometimes exceeding 80 years—and remarkable migrations to the South Pacific to spawn. Prized for its firm, rich flesh, the longfin eel supports a small but culturally and economically significant fishing industry, with harvests primarily destined for domestic consumption and niche export markets. Commercial fishing of the New Zealand longfin eel is tightly regulated within New Zealand to ensure sustainability, as the species is considered at risk due to habitat loss, overfishing, and barriers to migration. While New Zealand is the principal—and virtually exclusive—harvesting country for this species, limited exports reach countries such as Australia, Japan, and some European nations, where eels are valued delicacies. However, unlike the more widely distributed shortfin eel, the longfin eel’s unique range confines its fishing and export almost entirely to New Zealand, making it a national specialty rather than a globally harvested fish.

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