Country profile
Coastal fisheries snapshot
demersal fish (including coral trout, groupers and parrotfish), invertebrates for sale (e.g. lobster), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and wahoo) using a range of fishing methods. These species are critically important for food, local livelihoods and jobs (further details in Chapter 3).
Top 5 training topics
Gender participation
Male participations: 11 (39%) · Female participations: 17 (61%)
Yearly participations (2016–2025)
Projected changes in atmospheric & ocean climate (by 2050)
Relative to 1995-2014 baseline. Regional CMIP6 projections applied to Pitcairn Islands's climate zone (Southwest Pacific Convergence).
Coastal fisheries (current vs 2050)
demersal fish (including coral trout, groupers and parrotfish), invertebrates for sale (e.g. lobster), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and wahoo) using a range of fishing methods. These species are critically important for food, local livelihoods and jobs (further details in Chapter 3).
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 Pitcairn Islands, blue foods are highly 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 Pitcairn Islands' sustainable development less vulnerable to climate-induced 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
- Implement energy efficiency programs for fisheries and aquaculture Economic Revenue 4
- Climate-proof infrastructure
Community-based Fisheries Management — Pitcairn Islands
Source: Govan & Lalavanua 2022 (SPC), updated from FAO & SPC Outlook 2026. See the regional CBFM Report for full analysis.
Coastal fisheries in Pitcairn Islands
demersal fish (including coral trout, groupers and parrotfish), invertebrates for sale (e.g. lobster), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and wahoo) using a range of fishing methods. These species are critically important for food, local livelihoods and jobs (further details in Chapter 3).
Tuna fisheries in Pitcairn Islands
The Pacific is home to the world's largest tuna fishery, with member countries' EEZs producing over half of the global tuna catch. Pitcairn Islands's EEZ covers 836,108 km², providing significant access to tuna and other oceanic resources.
Fisheries Contributions to Pitcairn's Economy
Key findings from Benefish Study 4
25.2 Contribution of fishing to GDP
Current official contribution Official macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP or GNI, are not produced for Pitcairn. Method used to calculate the official fishing contribution to GDP As there is no GDP estimate, there is no method for calculating the fishing contribution. Estimate of fishing contribution to GDP Table 25-3 (below) represents one option for estimating fishing contribution to GDP in Pitcairn.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
25.3 Exports of fishery production
The only exports of fishery products from Pitcairn are the catch that is sold to visiting vessels (cruise ships, merchant ship, yachts and fishing vessels). An SPC study (Sharp 2011) estimated that this trade was approximately 1 t per year. Using the prices given above, this results in an annual value of about US$20,000 (NZ$28,500).
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
25.4 Government revenue from fisheries
Access fees for offshore fishing There is no authorised foreign fishing in the Pitcairn zone and no domestic vessels offshore. Other government revenue from fisheries No information is available on other forms of government revenue from the fisheries sector.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
25.5 Fisheries-related employment
The only readily available recent information on fisheries-related employment on Pitcairn is from the Pitcairn Islands Marine Protected Area Management Plan (Government of Pitcairn Islands 2021) which states: "The local fishery is currently very small-scale with just 12 regular fishers".
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
25.6 Fish consumption
The major historical attempts to estimate per capita fish consumption are: • Gillett and Preston (1997) estimates that the production from coastal fisheries in Pitcairn in the early 1990s equated to an annual per capita fish supply of 80 kg. However, that estimate was erroneously based on a population size of 100 people. The 1992 population of Pitcairn was 54 (Pitcairn Islands Study Center 2008). Using the revised population, the annual per capita fish supply would have been 148 kg.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
Pitcairn Islands — country resources
Direct access to country-specific chapters, regional report cards and economic studies.