Top Nile Perch Fishing Countries

The Nile perch (Lates niloticus) is a large, predatory freshwater fish native to several river basins across Africa, most notably the Nile, Congo, and Lake Chad systems. Renowned for its rapid growth and impressive size—sometimes exceeding 200 kilograms—this species has become a cornerstone of commercial and artisanal fisheries, especially after its controversial introduction to Lake Victoria in the 1950s. Today, the top Nile perch fishing countries include Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, which border Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical lake and the primary source of global Nile perch harvests. The fishing industry in these countries supports millions of livelihoods, with significant exports to Europe and the Middle East, although it has also sparked concerns about overfishing, ecological disruption, and sustainability.

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