Key Facts
The New Zealand seafood industry generates $6.4 billion in economic output annually, and employs 14,500 people.
The New Zealand seafood industry had total export earnings of $2 billion per year, making seafood one of New Zealand’s largest export earners.
New Zealand’s marine fisheries waters (Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial sea) measures 4.4 million square kilometres and is the world’s fourth largest ocean territory. Our 15,134 km long coastline is the ninth longest in the world.
New Zealand’s hoki fisheries were the first major fisheries in the world to be certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) the gold-star in certification labels, recognising sustainable seafood practices.
Our industry has significant Māori ownership, with approximately 27 percent of all quota by volume and value owned by Māori. They also have significant investment in aquaculture and land-based processing operations, including Moana New Zealand (100 percent Māori owned) and Sealord Group Limited (50 percent Māori owned).