The fisheries sector comprises the oceanic and coastal fisheries resources which are exploited at the subsistence, artisanal and industrial levels.

Subsistence activities include coastal line and net fishing targeting demersal and small pelagic reef and lagoon fish, as well as reef gleaning and collection of shellfish and other invertebrates.

Most of the catch is for home consumption or family distribution, but where markets or handling and distribution facilities exist some part may be sold.

The subsistence fishery is becoming increasingly cash-oriented around urban areas, with varying portions of the catch being sold, as such effective and efficient CMMs are needed to be put in place to manage, monitor and control harvest.

Artisanal fishing with bottom hand lines primarily targets deep-water snappers and groupers. Improvements in catching, preservation, processing, transportation and marketing are needed.

The current domestic fisheries production is not sufficient to meet a rapidly growing population. Commercial harvest of oceanic fisheries resources are landed in overseas ports; as such, little economic activity is generated within Vanuatu from these activities.

The Department of Fisheries is currently engaged in facilitating and promoting Aquaculture development of freshwater fish species as an alternative measure to address poverty, food security, and diversity of eco-activities.

In Vanuatu, the commercial fishery is more associated with offshore tuna fishing. The major targeted species include the albacore, big-eye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna. In Vanuatu, tuna resources are a very important generating about USD 1 million in access license fees annually.

Since Vanuatu has limited capacity to exploit its tuna resources at a commercial level, the tuna industry is dominated by foreign vessels consisting mainly of long-liner fleets and a few purse-seine and pole and line boats.

Other marine resources harvested for commercial purposes include both beche-de-mer that are dried and exported primarily to Asian Countries where they are a delicacy as well as, trochus and green snaild mainly for making buttons, jewellery and inlay works.

Vanuatu's Aquaculture sector is in its infancy with good potential to develop further in the future. The principle focus of aquaculture development in Vanuatu is to increase food security. Also important is the desire to reduce the pressure on wild stocks.

By promoting fish farming, it is anticipated that gradually attention will be diverted from the wild stocks to farming. Currently attention is directed towards freshwater farming of tilapia. The main target species for mariculture are prawn, trochus, green snail, giant clam, seaweed and corals.

The Department of Fisheries has a number of policies and plans including: