Country profile
Coastal fisheries snapshot
demersal fish (including snapper), invertebrates gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. octopus, lobster and crab), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna, scads and wahoo) using a range of fishing methods.
Top 5 training topics
Gender participation
Male participations: 106 (82%) · Female participations: 23 (18%)
Yearly participations (2016–2025)
Projected changes in atmospheric & ocean climate (by 2050)
Relative to 1995-2014 baseline. Regional CMIP6 projections applied to Niue's climate zone (Southwest Pacific Convergence).
Coastal fisheries (current vs 2050)
demersal fish (including snapper), invertebrates gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. octopus, lobster and crab), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna, scads and wahoo) 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.
Freshwater fisheries data being compiled for this country.
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.
Aquaculture data being compiled for this country.
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.
In Niue, blue foods are most important for nutrition security and health. Compared to other Pacific islands, projected climate impacts to blue food production by 2050 are medium to high. Socioeconomic conditions make Niue highly vulnerable to climate-induced economic losses.
Recommended adaptation: Food & nutrition security
- Implement sustainable ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management Food and Nutrition 7
Recommended adaptation: Sustainable livelihoods
- Country-specific recommendations being compiled.
Recommended adaptation: Economies & government revenue
- Develop policies and strategies that integrate climate change implications into fisheries and aquaculture management
- Implement energy efficiency programs for fisheries and aquaculture Economic Revenue 4
- Climate-proof infrastructure
Community-based Fisheries Management — Niue
Source: Govan & Lalavanua 2022 (SPC), updated from FAO & SPC Outlook 2026. See the regional CBFM Report for full analysis.
Coastal fisheries in Niue
demersal fish (including snapper), invertebrates gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. octopus, lobster and crab), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna, scads and wahoo) using a range of fishing methods.
Tuna fisheries in Niue
The Pacific is home to the world's largest tuna fishery, with member countries' EEZs producing over half of the global tuna catch. Niue's EEZ covers 450,000 km², providing significant access to tuna and other oceanic resources.
Fisheries Contributions to Niue'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 (NZ$).
Fishing contribution to GDP
Official contribution of fishing (and aquaculture, where included) to Niue's GDP, in NZ$ (thousands). The line shows the percentage of total GDP.
Key findings from Benefish Study 4
12.2 Contribution of fishing to GDP
Current official contribution The latest year for which a Niue GDP estimation is available is 2018. Unfortunately, in the available information, fisheries cannot be disaggregated from agriculture, hunting and forestry. Table 12-3 shows the available information. Niue GDP (current prices) 33,749 35,066 36,536 43,536 Agriculture, hunting, fishing and forestry contribution 5,200 5,262 5,448 5,538 Agriculture, hunting, fishing and forestry as a % of GDP 15.4% 15% 14.9% 12.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
12.3 Exports of fishery production
Gillett (2016) states that since Niue Fish Processors and the associated longlining ceased activities in late 2007, there have been no formal exports of fishery products from Niue. Informal fish exports occurred as passenger baggage on flights to Auckland, but these are not monitored. According to Statistics Niue (2022), in 2021 fish exports were NZ$5,050, representing 0.46% of all exports in that year.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
12.4 Government revenue from fisheries
Access fees for offshore fishing There has been no locally based offshore fishing in Niue since 2007. In 2021 no revenue was generated from bilateral foreign fishing arrangements. However, under the terms of the U.S. Multilateral Tuna Treaty, Niue and other Pacific Island countries receive payments from the U.S. government and the U.S. tuna industry. Although U.S. purse seiners have not attempted to fish in Niue in over 20 years, Niue still receives these payments, averaging NZ$1–1.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
12.5 Fisheries-related employment
There is very little new information on fisheries-related employment in Niue. Some of the historical studies are: • The SPC PROCFish survey in 2005 estimates 597 fishers (346 males and 251 females) in Niue. Of these, 170 fish only for finfish (155 males and 15 females), 75 only harvest invertebrates (13 males and 62 females), and 352 fish for both finfish and invertebrates (178 males and 174 females), although not necessarily during one single fishing trip.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
12.6 Fish consumption
There is little readily available recent information on the level of fishery consumption in Niue. Some of the results of earlier studies on fisheries consumption in Niue are: • Dalzell et al. (1993) used per capita fish consumption data from a 1987 SPC nutrition study to estimate annual per capita consumption of 40.8 kg food weight or about 49.0 kg whole fish weight.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
Niue — country resources
Direct access to country-specific chapters, regional report cards and economic studies.