Seafood and fish production in New Zealand
New Zealand: Seafood and fish production was 44,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
44,000 tonnes
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
20th
of 135 countries
All-time high
87,950 tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Seafood and fish production in New Zealand, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 44,000 tonnes for seafood and fish production in 2023.
The figure is up 76.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, seafood and fish production in New Zealand peaked at 87,950 tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1961.
New Zealand ranks 20th of 135 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Seafood and fish production in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1963 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1964 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1965 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1966 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1967 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1968 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1969 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1970 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1971 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1972 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1973 | 400 tonnes | — |
| 1974 | 100 tonnes | -75.0% |
| 1975 | 70 tonnes | -30.0% |
| 1976 | 90 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1977 | 560 tonnes | +522.2% |
| 1978 | 1,780 tonnes | +217.9% |
| 1979 | 410 tonnes | -77.0% |
| 1980 | 280 tonnes | -31.7% |
| 1981 | 1,020 tonnes | +264.3% |
| 1982 | 610 tonnes | -40.2% |
| 1983 | 1,420 tonnes | +132.8% |
| 1984 | 6,280 tonnes | +342.3% |
| 1985 | 1,780 tonnes | -71.7% |
| 1986 | 1,000 tonnes | -43.8% |
| 1987 | 4,720 tonnes | +372.0% |
| 1988 | 4,350 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1989 | 7,620 tonnes | +75.2% |
| 1990 | 20,650 tonnes | +171.0% |
| 1991 | 23,250 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1992 | 44,540 tonnes | +91.6% |
| 1993 | 25,820 tonnes | -42.0% |
| 1994 | 52,020 tonnes | +101.5% |
| 1995 | 68,570 tonnes | +31.8% |
| 1996 | 23,710 tonnes | -65.4% |
| 1997 | 45,130 tonnes | +90.3% |
| 1998 | 42,730 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 27,480 tonnes | -35.7% |
| 2000 | 21,070 tonnes | -23.3% |
| 2001 | 35,290 tonnes | +67.5% |
| 2002 | 50,160 tonnes | +42.1% |
| 2003 | 43,850 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 84,570 tonnes | +92.9% |
| 2005 | 87,950 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 69,360 tonnes | -21.1% |
| 2007 | 70,990 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 55,800 tonnes | -21.4% |
| 2009 | 46,430 tonnes | -16.8% |
| 2010 | 33,000 tonnes | -28.9% |
| 2011 | 37,000 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2012 | 35,000 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 25,000 tonnes | -28.6% |
| 2014 | 15,000 tonnes | -40.0% |
| 2015 | 16,000 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 44,000 tonnes | +175.0% |
| 2017 | 19,000 tonnes | -56.8% |
| 2018 | 23,000 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 2019 | 44,000 tonnes | +91.3% |
| 2020 | 44,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 44,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 44,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 44,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 341 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 1,780 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,908 tonnes | 280 tonnes | 7,620 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 37,390 tonnes | 20,650 tonnes | 68,570 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 56,547 tonnes | 21,070 tonnes | 87,950 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,100 tonnes | 15,000 tonnes | 44,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 44,000 tonnes | 44,000 tonnes | 44,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 17 Philippines 50,000 tonnes compare
- 18 Mauritania 49,000 tonnes compare
- 19 Taiwan, China 45,000 tonnes compare
- 21 Myanmar 35,000 tonnes compare
- 22 Spain 34,000 tonnes compare
- 23 Italy 18,000 tonnes compare
More agriculture & rural data for New Zealand
- 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)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.16 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.0% (2023)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is seafood and fish production in New Zealand?
- Seafood and fish production in New Zealand was 44,000 tonnes in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest seafood and fish production recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 87,950 tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest seafood and fish production recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1961.
- How does New Zealand rank for seafood and fish production?
- New Zealand ranks 20th out of 135 countries with data for 2023.
- Is seafood and fish production rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 76.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Seafood and fish production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).