Top 10 Tuna Producing Areas in the World

As a nutritious and highly respected high-end fish, tuna is fished in more than 70 countries around the world. So, which places are the most famous for tuna? Next, the editor will introduce some well-known tuna producing areas, including Indonesia, Japan, China, the United States, South Korea, the Philippines, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico and Vietnam. Through this article, you will learn about the world's top ten tuna producing areas and the relevant characteristics of tuna in these places.

1. Indonesian tuna (annual production of 613,000 tons/fishing volume accounts for 15% of the world/the world's largest tuna producer)

Indonesia is the world's largest tuna producer. With its rich fishery resources, it is known as the "Thousand Islands Country" and is one of the main sources of tuna in the world. It is understood that the waters of Sulawesi and Maluku are the main tuna production areas, especially the Banda Sea at the southern end of Sulawesi, which is the world's largest tuna production area.

Indonesia's tuna production is mainly based on skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna, accounting for 15% of the global tuna market, with an annual output of 613,000 tons. At the same time, Indonesia is also an important tuna canning and exporting country in the world.

2. Japanese tuna (annual production of 358,000 tons/consumption accounts for about 30% of the world/the world's largest tuna consumer)

Japan is one of the world's most famous tuna producing areas and has long been an important country for bluefin tuna fishing and consumption. As one of the world's major tuna consumption markets, Japan's tuna consumption accounts for about 30% of the global total, ranking first in the world. Common tuna species include skipjack tuna, albacore tuna and bluefin tuna. Among them, bluefin tuna has a high price due to its scarcity and excellent quality.

Japan's Pacific bluefin tuna catch ranks first in the world, and the main production areas include Nagasaki Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, Hokkaido and Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition, Japan has also developed a bluefin tuna farming industry, with aquaculture production reaching 21,460 tons in 2021.

3. Chinese tuna (annual production of more than 300,000 tons/China's second largest deep-sea fishing target)

China is one of the world's top ten high-quality tuna producing areas. Among tuna fishing, skipjack tuna has the highest production, accounting for more than 60% of the total catch all year round, ranking among the top in the world. The second is yellowfin tuna, accounting for about 24%, bigeye tuna and albacore tuna account for 10% and 5% respectively, and bluefin tuna is relatively scarce.

Tuna is China's second largest offshore fish species. From 2020 to 2022, China's tuna catch was 327,400 tons, 322,300 tons and 345,500 tons respectively, and in 2019 it hit a record high of 420,000 tons. By the end of 2023, China's largest tuna processing base is located in Zhoushan, Zhejiang, and the largest tuna breeding base is located in Yantai, Shandong.

4. American tuna (annual production of about 309,000 tons)

The United States is one of the countries with strong fishing power in the world, with rich marine and freshwater resources. It is also one of the major producers and consumers of tuna. The high-quality tuna in the United States mainly comes from the Hawaiian fishing grounds and the southern California waters. The ecological conditions and food resources in these waters provide an ideal environment for the growth of bluefin tuna.

American fishermen use a variety of fishing methods such as purse seine and fishing, and the annual catch of tuna can reach 309,000 tons. The main types of tuna in the United States include yellowfin tuna and albacore tuna, and canned tuna is one of the most famous tuna processed products in the United States and the world.

5. Korean tuna (annual production of about 292,000 tons)

Tuna is widely distributed in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and other waters. Among them, South Korea is one of the countries with higher tuna production in the world, producing about 292,000 tons of tuna each year. The main tuna species in South Korea include skipjack, yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, and the main fishing methods are purse seine and longline fishing.

According to the editor, more than 90% of South Korea's tuna production comes from the central and western Pacific region, and the annual production usually remains between 216,000 and 281,000 tons, with an average of 251,000 tons. At the same time, South Korea is also one of the important markets for tuna consumption.

6. Philippine tuna (annual production of 287,000 tons/a major tuna processing country)

The Philippines has very rich fishery resources, with more than 2,400 species of fish, among which tuna resources rank among the top in the world. General Santos City on Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines is known as the "Tuna Capital" and is one of the world's important tuna production bases. In its heyday, one out of every two tunas in the world came from General Santos City.

The Philippines' annual tuna production reaches 287,000 tons, ranking among the top ten tuna producing areas in the world. In addition, the Philippines has also actively developed the tuna processing industry and has become a world-renowned tuna production and processing power.

7. Ecuadorian Tuna (Annual production of up to 350,000 tons)

The coast of Ecuador is one of the world's important tuna producing areas, and its tuna production ranks among the best in the world. Thanks to its proximity to Peruvian fishing grounds, Ecuador leads the world in tuna fishing and export. The main tuna species caught include yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna. In 2016, tuna production reached 350,000 tons; in 2019, it was 277,000 tons; and in 2021, it was 257,000 tons.

In addition, Ecuador is also one of the world's important tuna processing centers and the largest canned tuna producer in South America, mainly exporting to the US market.

8. Spanish tuna (annual production of about 270,000 tons)

Spain is one of the world's famous tuna producing areas, and the main species caught include skipjack tuna, albacore tuna and bluefin tuna. Spain is best known for its bluefin tuna fishing, especially in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, which have rich bluefin tuna resources. The Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands and Andalusia are important fishing areas.

In addition, the Port of Santa Maria in Spain also has the world's largest bluefin tuna farm. Spain is also an important tuna canning production base in Europe, with an annual output of 374,000 tons, ranking second only to Thailand in the world, and ranking second in the world in canned tuna production.

9. Mexican Tuna (annual output of more than 100,000 tons)

Mexico is one of the world's famous tuna producing areas. It is located in the southern part of North America and has more than 12,000 miles of coastline, making it one of the world's largest tuna producers, with an annual output of more than 100,000 tons. Mexico's tuna mainly comes from the Bahamas, Florida and California, where the water temperature is suitable and the salinity is moderate, providing an ideal growth environment for tuna.

In particular, Mexico is one of the countries with the richest bluefin tuna resources in the world. The Baja Peninsula and the Sonoran Peninsula are important habitats for bluefin tuna.

10. Vietnamese tuna (annual production of about 100,000 tons)

Vietnam is an important tuna producer in Southeast Asia, with unique marine resources. With the continuous development of the marine fishing industry, Vietnam's tuna production has increased year by year, reaching 100,000 tons in 2020.

Vietnam's geographical advantages and rich marine resources provide strong support for its tuna industry. In addition, the government has also actively promoted the development of the aquatic processing industry through relevant policies. Tuna produced in Vietnam is mainly exported to the United States, the European Union and other markets, and is deeply loved by consumers.

The world's top ten tuna producing areas are mainly screened based on the common, well-known, good-tasting, and high-yield tuna producing areas. The reference data is as of February 2025. The list is for reference only to help you understand which are the most delicious and famous tuna. If you have any questions, please comment/criticize at the end.

animal tags： tuna