Country profile
Coastal fisheries snapshot
demersal fish (including goatfish, convict tangs, parrotfish and unicornfish), invertebrates gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. trochus and octopus), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi) primarily by trolling and spearfishing.
Top 5 training topics
Gender participation
Male participations: 13 (76%) · Female participations: 4 (24%)
Yearly participations (2016–2025)
Projected changes in atmospheric & ocean climate (by 2050)
Relative to 1995-2014 baseline. Regional CMIP6 projections applied to Guam's climate zone (Northwest Tropical Pacific).
Coastal fisheries (current vs 2050)
demersal fish (including goatfish, convict tangs, parrotfish and unicornfish), invertebrates gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. trochus and octopus), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi) primarily by trolling and spearfishing.
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.
rabbitfish, marine shrimp and freshwater eels, which provide food, local livelihoods and jobs, and generate 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.
Drivers of impact on fish availability by 2050: 75% climate change · 25% population change
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 key contributions to nutrition and livelihoods. 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
- Diversify blue food production systems Food and Nutrition 5
- Promote education and awareness on the importance of protecting aquatic habitats, species and the foods they supply
Recommended adaptation: Sustainable livelihoods
- Diversify production of fisheries and aquaculture commodities Livelihoods 4
- Develop sustainable marine and coastal tourism
Recommended adaptation: Economies & government revenue
- Implement energy efficiency programs for fisheries and aquaculture Economic Revenue 4
- Maintain the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to government revenue and economies
- Climate-proof infrastructure
Community-based Fisheries Management — Guam
Source: Govan & Lalavanua 2022 (SPC), updated from FAO & SPC Outlook 2026. See the regional CBFM Report for full analysis.
Coastal fisheries in Guam
demersal fish (including goatfish, convict tangs, parrotfish and unicornfish), invertebrates gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. trochus and octopus), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi) primarily by trolling and spearfishing.
Tuna fisheries in Guam
The Pacific is home to the world's largest tuna fishery, with member countries' EEZs producing over half of the global tuna catch. Guam's EEZ covers 221,504 km², providing significant access to tuna and other oceanic resources.
Fisheries Contributions to Guam'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 (US$).
Key findings from Benefish Study 4
22.2 Contribution of fishing to GDP
Current official contribution The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce makes estimates of the GDP of Guam under the Statistical Improvement Program, funded by the Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior. 346 Fisheries in the Economies of Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (Benefish Study 4) The BEA estimated that the GDP of Guam was US$5,886 million in 2020 and US$6,123 million in 2021.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
22.3 Exports of fishery production
Given that Guam has a large amount of tourism and military activity and a small fisheries sector, the fishery exports of Guam have limited economic importance. Determining the precise quantity is difficult because sometimes bona fide fisheries exports are aggregated in the statistics with the transshipped catch of foreign longliners that make port calls in Guam.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
22.4 Government revenue from fisheries
Access fees for offshore fishing There is currently no authorised foreign fishing in the Guam zone, and therefore no access fees are paid by foreign vessels. United States vessels are considered to be domestic vessels. There are no access fees for domestic vessels. Other government revenue from fisheries Any fishing licensing fees paid by vessels based in Guam go to U.S. government agencies, rather than to the Government of Guam.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
22.5 Fisheries-related employment
There is very little new information on fisheries-related employment in Guam. Some of the historical studies are: • Van Beukering (2007) gives the results of a household survey covering 400 local residents aimed at determining the nature and level of the value of Guam's coral reefs. The report states that approximately 40% of local residents fish on a regular basis, which was identified to be more important as a social activity than as an income-generating activity.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
22.6 Fish consumption
Several older studies provide information on per capita fish consumption, summarised below: • Gillett and Preston (1997) estimated that the production from coastal fisheries (commercial and subsistence) in Guam in the early 1990s represented an annual per capita fish supply of 4.4 kg. • Van Beukering (2007) shows that most households consume fish approximately twice a week. This has not changed a great deal in the last decade.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
Guam — country resources
Direct access to country-specific chapters, regional report cards and economic studies.