Find Fisheries expertise in Tuvalu

Fisheries, together with forestry and agriculture, contribute 17% of Tuvalu’s GDP (2008). Fisheries are located solely in coastal waters, as Tuvalu does not have any inland fisheries. Tuvalu has an ocean area of 900,000 km², and the majority of species caught are ocean species such as skipjack and yellowfin tuna. Commercial fishing in Tuvalu is minimal, with subsistence activities dominating the sector. The exception is a small fleet of skiffs in Funafuti which trawl for tuna. The fisheries sector is estimated to employ – including aquaculture – about 4000 people, while the number employed in the secondary sector is unknown, and the gross value of fisheries output in 2007 was estimated at about $43,000,000. About two thirds of all households in Tuvalu are believed to be involved in fishing activities, although mainly for own consumption.

Subsistence fishing dominates the sector, and domestic fishing is small compared to the size of the foreign fleet which is very large, yet Tuvalu does generate revenue from access fees for these vessels, estimated to contribute about 13% of government revenues in 2007. Virtually none of the fish caught by foreign vessels is brought onshore. However, the marine catch profile is largely the four main species of tuna, namely bigeye, yellowfin, skipjack and albacore. There are no inland fisheries in Tuvalu, and there are no functional aquaculture activities.

Fisheries organisations in Tuvalu
National Fishing Corporation of Tuvalu (NAFICOT)
Share