Country profile
Coastal fisheries snapshot
demersal fish (including snappers, emperors and groupers), invertebrates for sale (e.g. sea cucumbers) and gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. clams), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and flying fish) using a range of fishing methods.
Top 5 training topics
Gender participation
Male participations: 479 (78%) · Female participations: 134 (22%)
Yearly participations (2016–2025)
Projected changes in atmospheric & ocean climate (by 2050)
Relative to 1995-2014 baseline. Regional CMIP6 projections applied to Tuvalu's climate zone (Northeast Pacific Convergence).
Coastal fisheries (current vs 2050)
demersal fish (including snappers, emperors and groupers), invertebrates for sale (e.g. sea cucumbers) and gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. clams), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and flying fish) 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.
Giant clams
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: 64% climate change · 36% 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.
are most important for nutrition security and health and economies. 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
- 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
Recommended adaptation: Economies & government revenue
- Implement climate-informed fisheries management Economic Revenue 2
- 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 — Tuvalu
Source: Govan & Lalavanua 2022 (SPC), updated from FAO & SPC Outlook 2026. See the regional CBFM Report for full analysis.
Coastal fisheries in Tuvalu
demersal fish (including snappers, emperors and groupers), invertebrates for sale (e.g. sea cucumbers) and gleaned from intertidal habitats (e.g. clams), and nearshore pelagic fish (including tuna and flying fish) using a range of fishing methods.
Tuna fisheries in Tuvalu
The Pacific is home to the world's largest tuna fishery, with member countries' EEZs producing over half of the global tuna catch. Tuvalu's EEZ covers 749,790 km², providing significant access to tuna and other oceanic resources.
Fisheries Contributions to Tuvalu'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 (A$).
Key findings from Benefish Study 4
18.2 Contribution of fishing to GDP
Current official contribution According to staff of the Central Statistics Division (L. Peleti, per. com. January 2023), the most recent estimation of Tuvalu's GDP was carried out for 2019 (Table 18-4). Fishing contribution to GDP 2,859 2,985 3,113 2,667 Tuvalu GDP 55,549 59,075 64,388 77,938 Fishing contribution as a % of GDP 5.1% 5.1% 4.8% 3.4% Method used to calculate the official fishing contribution to GDP According to staff of the Central Statistics Division (L. Peleti, per. com.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
18.3 Exports of fishery production
The official export statistics of Tuvalu do not have a separate classification for fish, but rather the aggregated category of "Live animals, animal products". In 2021 there were zero exports in that category. There is information on informal fishery exports in Gillett (2016). This consisted of shell necklaces for passengers on departing flights and the informal export of fish as passenger baggage on departing flights.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
18.4 Government revenue from fisheries
Access fees for offshore fishing The 2021 annual report of the Tuvalu Fisheries Department (TFD 2022b) contains a statement that clarifies the access fees for offshore fishing: "The department managed to collect a combined revenue of US$32,296,851.10. The selling of fishing days was the biggest contributor accounting for 89% of the total revenue, fishing licenses 9% and transshipment the least with 2%.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
18.5 Fisheries-related employment
The Tuvalu 2015/16 HIES (SPC and CSD 2018) contains information about fisheries-related employment: • In total, 31.5% of urban households and 72.5% of rural households participate in fishing activities for both cash and subsistence, while 5.1% of urban households and 14% of rural households participate in fishing activities for cash alone. • Fishing activities provide a total A$295,460 in national household cash income.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
18.6 Fish consumption
The following summarises some older studies on fish consumption in Tuvalu: • SCP (1997) stated that annual consumption in Funafuti was in the order of 60.0 kg per capita, and on the outer islands it was, on average, around 120.0 kg per capita, although there was substantial variation between islands. • Preston (2000), using 1995 FAO production, import and export statistics, indicated an apparent per capita fish supply of 85.0 kg per capita per year.
Full chapter section in Benefish Study 4 →
Tuvalu — country resources
Direct access to country-specific chapters, regional report cards and economic studies.