Fish landings and discards in New Zealand
New Zealand: Fish landings and discards was 58,655 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
58,655
Change on year
down 12.7%
World rank
24th
of 161 countries
All-time high
84,741
in 1988
All-time low
3,203
in 1950
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Fish landings and discards in New Zealand, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fish landings and discards in New Zealand is 58,655, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of down 12.7% on the previous year and up 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish landings and discards in New Zealand peaked at 84,741 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 3,203, in 1950.
That places New Zealand 24th out of 161 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fish landings and discards in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,203 | — |
| 1951 | 3,381 | +5.6% |
| 1952 | 3,679 | +8.8% |
| 1953 | 3,942 | +7.1% |
| 1954 | 4,206 | +6.7% |
| 1955 | 4,741 | +12.7% |
| 1956 | 5,146 | +8.5% |
| 1957 | 5,489 | +6.7% |
| 1958 | 5,769 | +5.1% |
| 1959 | 6,301 | +9.2% |
| 1960 | 7,041 | +11.8% |
| 1961 | 7,103 | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 7,052 | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 7,320 | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 8,199 | +12.0% |
| 1965 | 9,182 | +12.0% |
| 1966 | 10,902 | +18.7% |
| 1967 | 11,805 | +8.3% |
| 1968 | 12,017 | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 10,292 | -14.4% |
| 1970 | 12,617 | +22.6% |
| 1971 | 17,909 | +41.9% |
| 1972 | 16,447 | -8.2% |
| 1973 | 20,500 | +24.6% |
| 1974 | 22,818 | +11.3% |
| 1975 | 22,041 | -3.4% |
| 1976 | 25,804 | +17.1% |
| 1977 | 30,411 | +17.9% |
| 1978 | 37,366 | +22.9% |
| 1979 | 47,397 | +26.8% |
| 1980 | 63,738 | +34.5% |
| 1981 | 72,297 | +13.4% |
| 1982 | 74,975 | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 61,912 | -17.4% |
| 1984 | 70,566 | +14.0% |
| 1985 | 50,315 | -28.7% |
| 1986 | 48,227 | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 70,041 | +45.2% |
| 1988 | 84,741 | +21.0% |
| 1989 | 71,580 | -15.5% |
| 1990 | 51,483 | -28.1% |
| 1991 | 59,049 | +14.7% |
| 1992 | 59,727 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 68,218 | +14.2% |
| 1994 | 70,047 | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 74,188 | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 74,034 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 80,089 | +8.2% |
| 1998 | 79,200 | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 71,815 | -9.3% |
| 2000 | 65,006 | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 67,038 | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 63,301 | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 62,339 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 59,102 | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 55,862 | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 50,432 | -9.7% |
| 2007 | 48,595 | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 42,110 | -13.3% |
| 2009 | 39,895 | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 40,961 | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 41,624 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 42,205 | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 42,411 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 50,083 | +18.1% |
| 2015 | 55,849 | +11.5% |
| 2016 | 65,460 | +17.2% |
| 2017 | 67,179 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 58,655 | -12.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 58,655 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,028, 7.3× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 58,655 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5,675, 10.3× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4,586 | 3,203 | 6,301 | 10 |
| 1960s | 9,091 | 7,041 | 12,017 | 10 |
| 1970s | 25,331 | 12,617 | 47,397 | 10 |
| 1980s | 66,839 | 48,227 | 84,741 | 10 |
| 1990s | 68,785 | 51,483 | 80,089 | 10 |
| 2000s | 55,368 | 39,895 | 67,038 | 10 |
| 2010s | 51,603 | 40,961 | 67,179 | 9 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More agriculture & rural data for New Zealand
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1262 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 1.76 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -10.07 % change on previous year (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0401 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,976 current US$ per person (2023)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.275 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish landings and discards in New Zealand?
- Fish landings and discards in New Zealand was 58,655 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish landings and discards recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 84,741 in 1988.
- What is the lowest fish landings and discards recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,203 in 1950.
- How does New Zealand rank for fish landings and discards?
- New Zealand ranks 24th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish landings and discards rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fish landings and discards. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 69 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
– Landings represent aquatic animals that are caught and brought ashore for use. – Discards are animals thrown back (alive or dead) into the sea after being caught during fishing activities.