Country profile
Coastal fisheries snapshot
demersal fish (including rabbitfish and snappers), invertebrates for export (e.g. sea cucumbers and mud crabs) gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. giant clams and trochus), and nearshore pelagic fish (including trevally) using a range of fishing methods.
Top 5 training topics
Gender participation
Male participations: 894 (76%) · Female participations: 275 (24%)
Yearly participations (2016–2025)
Projected changes in atmospheric & ocean climate (by 2050)
Relative to 1995-2014 baseline. Regional CMIP6 projections applied to Papua New Guinea's climate zone (Australian and Maritime Continent Monsoon).
Coastal fisheries (current vs 2050)
demersal fish (including rabbitfish and snappers), invertebrates for export (e.g. sea cucumbers and mud crabs) gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. giant clams and trochus), and nearshore pelagic fish (including trevally) 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.
freshwater prawns (Machrobrachium spp
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: 35% climate change · 65% 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
- Manage freshwater and estuarine fisheries to harness opportunities Food and Nutrition 4
- Promote the use of oceanic catches to fill the gap in aquatic resources needed for food and nutrition security
- 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 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 4
- Climate-proof infrastructure
Community-based Fisheries Management — Papua New Guinea
Source: Govan & Lalavanua 2022 (SPC), updated from FAO & SPC Outlook 2026. See the regional CBFM Report for full analysis.
Coastal fisheries in Papua New Guinea
demersal fish (including rabbitfish and snappers), invertebrates for export (e.g. sea cucumbers and mud crabs) gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. giant clams and trochus), and nearshore pelagic fish (including trevally) using a range of fishing methods.
Tuna fisheries in Papua New Guinea
The Pacific is home to the world's largest tuna fishery, with member countries' EEZs producing over half of the global tuna catch. Papua New Guinea's EEZ covers 2,402,290 km², providing significant access to tuna and other oceanic resources.
Fisheries Contributions to Papua New Guinea'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 (K).
Key findings from Benefish Study 4
14.2 Contribution of fishing to GDP
Current official contribution The official contribution of fishing to PNG's GDP is given in NSO (2021b). That information, supplemented by unpublished data from NSO, is used to construct Table 14-6. Gross output fishing 846 1042 1,194 1,795 2,103 2,287 2,327 n/a Value added fishing 540 625 717 944 1,072 1,157 1,196 1,264 Formal fishing 93 140 199 389 468 507 500 511 Informal fishing 447 485 518 555 604 651 696 753 PNG GDP 47,721 57,131 60,139 65,038 72,522 79,405 83,845 82,500 Value added fishing as % of PNG GDP 1.1% 1.1% 1.2% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.4% 1.5% Current prices; Units = Kina millions It the above table, formal fishing is defined as fishing by goods and services tax (GST)-paying businesses, while informal fishing includes fishing for informal markets and fishing for subsistence (V. Nouairi, per. com. October 2022).
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
14.3 Exports of fishery production
The Papua New Guinea Fisheries Sector Executive Overview (NFA 2022b) gives the fishery exports of the country (Table 14-9). Product Value in millions of Kina and millions of USD 2018 2019 2020 PGK USD PGK USD PGK USD Beche-de-mer 93.55 28.22 3.38 1.02 32.2 9.4 Crab 6.28 1.90 10.99 3.32 6.6 1.9 Fish (frozen, live, dried maw) 1.44 0.43 2.38 0.72 2.3 0.7 Lobster (frozen, live) 8.67 2.62 14.51 4.46 12.3 3.6 Shark (dried shark fin) 2.27 0.68 2.87 0.86 2.0 0.6 Shell (whole, dried) 1.54 0.47 2.34 0.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
14.4 Government revenue from fisheries
Access fees for offshore fishing The Papua New Guinea Fisheries Sector Executive Overview (NFA 2022b) provides information on fisheries revenue at the national level. It states that NFA has generated over K500 million on average per annum over the period 2020–2022 (about K525 for 2021), which is made up of access fees (94% of the fisheries revenue), license fees (3%) and others (3%).
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
14.5 Fisheries-related employment
The major historical attempts to estimate employment in PNG's small-scale fisheries have been: • A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report (1994) indicates that the coastal fishing population (those who are involved in some fishing activity at least once a week) is about 120,000. People involved in freshwater fishing (those who do some fishing at least once per week) number somewhat less than 125,000.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
14.6 Fish consumption
Preston (2001) summarises the older information on fish6 consumption in PNG, as follows: • Most documents and reports on nutrition in PNG focus on agriculture and animal husbandry and pay little attention to fish. Nevertheless, fish play an important role in food security, particularly in certain areas. On average, Papua New Guineans were estimated (Gibson 2000) to have consumed 10 kg of fresh, frozen or dried fish per capita, with a total value of K 60 million, in 1996.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
Papua New Guinea — country resources
Direct access to country-specific chapters, regional report cards and economic studies.