Country profile
Coastal fisheries snapshot
demersal fish (including emperors, snappers, parrotfish, surgeonfish and groupers), invertebrates for export (e.g. sea cucumbers) and gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. lobster), and nearshore pelagic fish (including trevally and tuna) using a range of fishing methods.
Top 5 training topics
Gender participation
Male participations: 78 (55%) · Female participations: 63 (45%)
Yearly participations (2016–2025)
Projected changes in atmospheric & ocean climate (by 2050)
Relative to 1995-2014 baseline. Regional CMIP6 projections applied to French Polynesia's climate zone (Southwest Pacific Convergence).
Coastal fisheries (current vs 2050)
demersal fish (including emperors, snappers, parrotfish, surgeonfish and groupers), invertebrates for export (e.g. sea cucumbers) and gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. lobster), and nearshore pelagic fish (including trevally and tuna) using a range of fishing methods.
Oceanic fisheries (current vs 2050)
Tuna fisheries — skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore. Habitat areas projected to shift with ocean temperature, stratification and oxygen content changes.
Freshwater & estuarine fisheries (current vs 2050)
Inland fisheries are expected to be affected by changes in rainfall patterns, river flow, and habitat accessibility by 2050.
Aquaculture (current vs 2050)
Mariculture impacted by sea surface temperature, ocean acidification and intense storms. Freshwater aquaculture may benefit from increased freshwater habitat but face disease and temperature pressure.
pearl oysters, marine shrimp, batfish and giant clams, which provide food, local livelihoods and jobs, and government revenue
Livelihoods & economies (current vs 2050)
Fisheries and aquaculture provide household income, jobs and government revenue. Climate-driven changes will affect employment and economic contribution.
Aquatic food security (current vs 2050)
Aquatic (blue) foods provide an important source of nutrition. Population growth combined with climate impacts may create deficits in fish supply.
Blue food production systems (current vs 2050)
Blue foods contribute to nutrition security, economies, livelihoods and jobs. Climate impacts on coastal, oceanic, freshwater fisheries and aquaculture together determine the system's resilience.
make significant contributions to nutrition security and health, economies, livelihoods and jobs. Compared to other Pacific islands, projected climate impacts to blue food production by 2050 are medium to high.
Recommended adaptation: Food & nutrition security
- Implement sustainable ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management Food and Nutrition 2
- Manage freshwater and estuarine fisheries to harness opportunities Food and Nutrition 4
- Improve post-harvest preservation methods for fish and invertebrates to prepare for sudden shocks
- Promote education and awareness on the importance of protecting aquatic habitats, species and the foods they supply
Recommended adaptation: Sustainable livelihoods
- Diversify aquaculture commodities and develop new farmed climate-resilient species, strains and varieties
- Apply innovative technologies and climate-smart tools for pond aquaculture and mariculture Livelihoods 3
- Improve technical and business viability of fisheries Livelihoods 5
Recommended adaptation: Economies & government revenue
- Implement climate-informed fisheries management Economic Revenue 2
- Implement energy efficiency programs for fisheries and aquaculture Economic Revenue 5
- Climate-proof infrastructure
Community-based Fisheries Management — French Polynesia
Source: Govan & Lalavanua 2022 (SPC), updated from FAO & SPC Outlook 2026. See the regional CBFM Report for full analysis.
Coastal fisheries in French Polynesia
demersal fish (including emperors, snappers, parrotfish, surgeonfish and groupers), invertebrates for export (e.g. sea cucumbers) and gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. lobster), and nearshore pelagic fish (including trevally and tuna) using a range of fishing methods.
Tuna fisheries in French Polynesia
The Pacific is home to the world's largest tuna fishery, with member countries' EEZs producing over half of the global tuna catch. French Polynesia's EEZ covers 4,767,240 km², providing significant access to tuna and other oceanic resources.
Fisheries Contributions to French Polynesia's Economy
Harvest by sector (1999 → 2021)
Volume and economic value of fisheries production by sector, from successive Benefish studies. Use the toggle to switch between volume (tonnes) and value (CFP).
Key findings from Benefish Study 4
21.2 Contribution of fishing to GDP
Current official contribution According to ISPF staff, the last year for which detailed estimates of GDP for French Polynesia were made was 2018 (A. Ailloud, per. com. December 2022). ISPF (2022a) gives the GDP (current prices) for 2018 as XPF 626,899,000,000. ISPF unpublished data show: • XPF 3,915,000,000 valued added for pearl culture for 2018. • XPF 8,301,000,000 valued added for non-pearl aquaculture and fisheries for 2018.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
21.3 Exports of fishery production
Using customs data, ISPF compiled information on non-pearl fishery exports of the territory (Table 21-9). Pelagic fish 782 1,685 Whole chilled 665 1,521 Whole frozen 14 5 Chilled fillets 10 27 Frozen fillets 93 132 Live fish 28 51 Molluscs, crustaceans, and other invertebrates 44 50 Molluscs 44 50 Other invertebrates 0.2 0 Crustaceans 0 0 Shells 190 186 Total 1,044 1,972 Detailed information on the pearl exports of French Polynesia is given the DRM Statistical Bulletin (Table 21-10).
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
21.4 Government revenue from fisheries
Access fees for offshore fishing In December 2000 all access agreements with foreign fishing fleets ceased (DRM 2022b). Consequently, no access fees for foreign fishing have been received since that time. There are no access fees for domestic vessels. Other government revenue from fisheries In general, in French Polynesia the fisheries sector is not revenue generating, but rather is subsidy absorbing.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
21.5 Fisheries-related employment
DRM's Statistics Bulletin (DRM 2022a) is an excellent, comprehensive inventory of fisheries and aquaculture production in French Polynesia. By contrast, information on socioeconomic aspects of fisheries in the territory is more difficult to locate. The Bulletin indicates there were a total of 1,110 professional lagoon fishers in 2021 (i.e. those that were issued with a "carte professionnelle de pêcheur lagonaire").
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
21.6 Fish consumption
Historical studies of fish consumption in French Polynesia are: • Service de la Pêche analysed fish consumption in French Polynesia in 2003 (Service de la Pêche, unpublished data). Annual per capita fish consumption of 31.4 kg was determined by applying the following estimates: domestic fish production of 9,102 t, net weight; fish imports of 790 t; fish exports of 1,731 t; and a population of 259,596 people. This study reduced the domestic fisheries production ("live weight") by 30%.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
French Polynesia — country resources
Direct access to country-specific chapters, regional report cards and economic studies.