China remains the world’s dominant actor in capture fisheries. In 2022, China alone accounted for roughly 14 % of global marine capture production by volume. More strikingly, by value, China generated about 35 % of the global value of marine landings in 2022.
PELAKITA.ID – Capture fisheries — the wild harvesting of fish from oceans, seas and inland waters — remain a critical pillar in global seafood systems. Although growth in wild‑catch volumes has largely plateaued, several countries continue to develop rapidly in terms of value, capacity and strategic importance.
Below we highlight five such nations, exploring their capture fisheries trajectories, strategic benefits to their economies, and what lessons they offer.
1. China
China remains the world’s dominant actor in capture fisheries. In 2022, China alone accounted for roughly 14 % of global marine capture production by volume. More strikingly, by value, China generated about 35 % of the global value of marine landings in 2022.
For China, capture fisheries are central to food security, coastal employment and trade. The country’s vast fleet, expansive coastline and high domestic consumption enable it to capture economies of scale.
At the same time, China’s capture sector supports the processing and export of high‑value species, feeding both domestic markets and global demand.
However, China also faces material challenges: resource sustainability, over‑capacity, and the need to shift toward higher‑value, more efficient and environmentally sound operations. Its capture fisheries are less about dramatic growth in volume now and more about upgrading value, traceability and market access.
2. Indonesia
Indonesia, with its archipelagic geography and extensive marine resources, is among the fastest‑moving countries in capture fisheries. In 2022, Indonesia’s marine capture production volume in Southeast Asia reached about 7 million tonnes, representing roughly 37.7 % of the region’s total.
In value terms the data show that Indonesia accounted for about 13 % of global marine capture value in the same year
Indonesia’s capture fisheries bring multiple benefits: they support employment for coastal communities, contribute to export revenue (especially through high‑value species such as tuna and shrimp), and underpin food supply in domestic markets.
For example, fisheries export value for Jan–Oct 2024 was estimated at US$4.81 billion, with much of that coming from capture fishing (DFW Indonesia, 2024)
The Indonesian experience underlines that scale combined with strategic upgrades (fleet modernisation, better ports, improved value chains) can generate rapid development. It also shows how capture fisheries remain relevant even as aquaculture gains prominence.
3. India
India has a long coastline (>7,500 km), a vast inland waters network, and a large artisanal capture fisheries sector.
While the number of commercial large‑scale operations remains smaller than in China or Indonesia, India’s capture fisheries continue to grow both in volume and value. In 2022 India ranked about 6 % of global capture production by volume.
The significance of capture fisheries for India lies in livelihood creation (millions engaged in marine and inland fishing), rural/coastal development, and potential export earnings from marine wild capture species.
The future challenge is to balance growth with sustainability: managing stocks, reducing IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing, and upgrading infrastructure.
4. Vietnam
Vietnam has seen rapid expansion in its fisheries sector, including capture, and stands out for its integrated approach. While much attention goes to its aquaculture, its capture fisheries are significant: in Southeast Asia Vietnam represented about 28 % of the region’s marine capture value in 2022.
Moreover, Southeast Asia as a region increased its capture fisheries output by ~7.1 million tonnes from 1993 to 2022 — the largest regional increase globally.
Vietnam’s capture fisheries contribute to export earning capacity, coastal employment and food supply. Notably, farming models combine capture and aquaculture, and the sophistication of value chains is improving. The Vietnam case shows how smaller countries (relative to China/India) can leap in value by focusing on integrated management, high‑value species and export markets.
5. Japan
Japan, historically a mature capture‑fisheries nation, now focuses on value, not volume. While its production volume has been declining, Japan remains among the top countries by landed‑value of marine capture fisheries (about 7 % of global value in 2022).
Japan’s capture sector emphasises high‑value species (tuna, high‑grade shellfish, etc.), sustainable management and traceability. This model shows that even when volume growth slows or reverses, economic development can continue via value‑addition, market segmentation and technological upgrades. Japan’s experience also signals the importance of managing decline sustainably, ensuring capture fisheries contribute meaningfully.
What We Learn: Key Lessons for Capture‑Fisheries Development
From these five country cases, a set of cross‑cutting lessons emerges for capture‑fisheries development:
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Scale matters, but value is critical: China and Indonesia show that large volume only takes you so far — increasing value via high‑end species, processing and export matters.
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Infrastructure and value chains are essential: Upgrading fleets, ports, cold‑chains and processing facilities pays off. Indonesia’s export value rise underscores that.
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Trade integration and market access: Export‑oriented capture fisheries ( Vietnam, Indonesia ) benefit from access to demanding markets and certification regimes.
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Sustainability and governance are no longer optional: Resource depletion, market access blocked by sustainability concerns, IUU fishing – these threaten long‑term value. Japan’s shift to value rather than volume is instructive.
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Inclusive development: Capture fisheries often employ large numbers of small‑scale fishers and coastal communities. Growth should benefit these actors, not just large fleets.
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Diversification and modernization: Even mature players (Japan) or large ones (China) show that modernization (gear, species, traceability) and diversification (from volume to value) are needed.
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Integrate capture and other sectors: Countries like Vietnam show how linking capture fisheries with aquaculture, processing and export networks provides resilience and higher returns.
Why Capture Fisheries Still Matter
Despite the massive growth in aquaculture (which surpassed capture in some production statistics in recent years), capture fisheries remain vital for multiple reasons: they supply employment (often in coastal and rural zones where alternatives are limited), they provide access to high‑value wild species, they support food security (especially in lower‑income countries), and they maintain cultural and social layers in fishing communities.
According to FAO data, the estimated total first‑sale value of fisheries and aquaculture in 2022 was around US$ 472 billion. Of that capture fisheries (combined wild marine and inland) remain a significant portion
Moreover, as many coastal states are now improving governance, certification and traceability, capture fisheries are becoming high‑value strategic sectors — not simply extractive, but integral to value‑added economies. Countries that manage to shift from volume to value, from subsistence to trade, and from unmanaged to sustainable, stand to gain.
Conclusion
The five countries above illustrate different paths to strengthening capture fisheries: China via scale and value; Indonesia via coastal resource leverage and export push; India via scale plus livelihood deep‑reach; Vietnam via integration and jump‑value; Japan via modernization and value‑focus.
For any nation seeking to boost its capture‑fisheries sector, the core success factors are not just larger catches but smarter catches: better infrastructure, tighter value chains, sustainability, inclusive benefit‑sharing and global market access.
If managed well, capture fisheries remain a potent lever for national development, coastal resilience and seafood security.
References for Capture Fisheries Article
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OECD Review of Fisheries, 2025. Global capture fisheries production, volume and value trends.
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Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), 2022. Fisheries statistics and country profiles.
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Directorate General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products, Indonesia, 2024. Indonesia fisheries export value and production.
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SEAFDEC, 2021. Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia — Country Profiles.
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Vietnam Fisheries Industry Report, 2025. Capture and aquaculture production, export values, and integrated farming systems.