Country profile
Coastal fisheries snapshot
demersal fish (including surgeonfish, parrotfish, groupers and wrasses), invertebrates for export (e.g. lobster) and gleaned from intertidal habitats, and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and mahi mahi) a range of fishing methods.
Top 5 training topics
Gender participation
Male participations: 0 (0%) · Female participations: 1 (100%)
Yearly participations (2016–2025)
Projected changes in atmospheric & ocean climate (by 2050)
Relative to 1995-2014 baseline. Regional CMIP6 projections applied to Northern Mariana Islands's climate zone (Northwest Pacific Trade).
Coastal fisheries (current vs 2050)
demersal fish (including surgeonfish, parrotfish, groupers and wrasses), invertebrates for export (e.g. lobster) and gleaned from intertidal habitats, and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and mahi mahi) 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.
Livelihoods & economies (current vs 2050)
Fisheries and aquaculture provide household income, jobs and government revenue. Climate-driven changes will affect employment and economic contribution.
Detailed livelihoods data being compiled for this country.
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: 99% climate change · 1% 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.
In the Northern Mariana Islands, blue foods make relatively few contributions to sustainable development outcomes. Compared to other Pacific islands, projected climate impacts to blue food production by 2050 are medium to high. Socioeconomic conditions make Northern Mariana Islands' sustainable development highly vulnerable to climate-induced outcomes.
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
- Apply innovative technologies and climate-smart tools for pond aquaculture and mariculture Livelihoods 4
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 — Northern Mariana Islands
Source: Govan & Lalavanua 2022 (SPC), updated from FAO & SPC Outlook 2026. See the regional CBFM Report for full analysis.
Coastal fisheries in Northern Mariana Islands
demersal fish (including surgeonfish, parrotfish, groupers and wrasses), invertebrates for export (e.g. lobster) and gleaned from intertidal habitats, and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and mahi mahi) a range of fishing methods.
Tuna fisheries in Northern Mariana Islands
The Pacific is home to the world's largest tuna fishery, with member countries' EEZs producing over half of the global tuna catch. Northern Mariana Islands's EEZ covers 749,268 km², providing significant access to tuna and other oceanic resources.
Fisheries Contributions to Northern Mariana Islands'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
24.2 Contribution of fishing to GDP
Current official contribution The estimates of the GDP of CNMI are made by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, under the Statistical Improvement Program funded by the Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The BEA also makes GDP estimates for American Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
24.3 Exports of fishery production
Gillett (2016) indicated that fishery exports of CNMI in 2014 were limited to shrimp and shrimp broodstock, worth US$712,500. After a typhoon in 2015, the shrimp farms in CNMI were damaged, and all production stopped. For the purposes of the present study, it is assumed that CNMI exported no fishery products in 2021.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
24.4 Government revenue from fisheries
Access fees for offshore fishing There is currently no authorised foreign fishing in the CNMI zone, and no access fees are received from foreign vessels. U.S. vessels are considered to be domestic vessels. There are no access fees for domestic vessels. Other government revenue from fisheries According to financial information provided in DFW's 2019 Citizen Centric Report (DFW 2020), the Division receives no money from fisheries licenses or fisheries-related fines.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
24.5 Fisheries-related employment
There are several older studies that contain information on aspects of fisheries employment: 380 Fisheries in the Economies of Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (Benefish Study 4) • Rhodes et al. (2011) state that in Saipan, several professional, locally owned fishing operations supply markets in Saipan. These operations each consist mainly of three to four full-time, low-paid, non-resident workers, with catch-based incentives as part of their salary.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
24.6 Fish consumption
Historical studies that provide information on CNMI fish consumption are (in chronological order): • Gillett and Preston (1997) estimated that production from coastal fisheries (commercial and subsistence) in CNMI in the early 1990s equated to an annual per capita fish supply of 66.5 kg. This figure was partially based on the Dalzell et al. (1996) production estimate of 2,825 t annually from CNMI's subsistence fisheries – this amount appears unreasonably large. • Zeller et al.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
Northern Mariana Islands — country resources
Direct access to country-specific chapters, regional report cards and economic studies.