New Zealand’s marine sector is big enough to register at sea as well as on spreadsheets, with 2,100 active marine farms covering 7,800 hectares recorded in 2022. Yet the picture is more complex than “more farms equals more output”, from Greenshell mussels to hoki landings, marine tourism, and port throughput that all pull in different directions. This post pulls together the key figures to show how aquaculture, wild capture, and marine services add up, sometimes surprisingly, to the wider marine economy.
Key Takeaways
- New Zealand's aquaculture production reached 194,000 tonnes (greenweight) in 2022, primarily mussels
- Greenshell mussel production was 133,000 tonnes (meatweight equivalent) valued at NZ$322 million in 2022
- Pacific oyster farmed tonnage was 10,200 tonnes (meatweight) in 2022 from 950 hectares of seabed farms
- There are 285,000 registered pleasure craft in New Zealand as of 2023
- Recreational fishing participation rate is 25% of adult population, or 750,000 anglers yearly
- Marine tourism visitor numbers reached 1.2 million in 2023, spending NZ$1.1 billion
- In 2022, New Zealand's commercial fishing industry landed 307,000 tonnes of fish, shellfish, and other marine species
- The deepwater hoki fishery alone accounted for 121,000 tonnes of landings in 2022, representing nearly 40% of total commercial catch
- Hoki quota holders reported a total allowable commercial catch (TACC) of 128,272 tonnes for the 2022/23 fishing year
- The marine industry employs 44,000 people directly and indirectly as of 2023
- Marine manufacturing and services contribute NZ$2.8 billion annually to GDP
- Boating sector supports 12,000 jobs with 250,000 registered recreational vessels
- NZ's 13 major ports handled 16.5 million TEU containers in 2022
- Port of Tauranga processed 1.3 million TEU, up 8% in 2022
- Total dry bulk cargo through NZ ports was 28 million tonnes in 2022, mainly logs and coal
In 2022, New Zealand’s marine sector grew with record aquaculture output and strong export revenue.
Related reading
01 · Category
Aquaculture17 stats
01
New Zealand's aquaculture production reached 194,000 tonnes (greenweight) in 2022, primarily mussels
02
Greenshell mussel production was 133,000 tonnes (meatweight equivalent) valued at NZ$322 million in 2022
03
Pacific oyster farmed tonnage was 10,200 tonnes (meatweight) in 2022 from 950 hectares of seabed farms
04
King salmon production hit 25,600 tonnes (head-off weight) in 2022, up 12% from prior year
05
The number of active marine farms increased to 2,100 in 2022, covering 7,800 hectares
06
Export value of NZ aquaculture products was NZ$743 million in 2022, with 95% to Asia and Europe
07
Marlborough region produced 85% of NZ's Greenshell mussels in 2022
08
Finfish aquaculture (salmon) contributed NZ$450 million to export revenue in 2022
09
Kina (sea urchin) aquaculture pilot farms produced 50 tonnes in 2022
10
Total aquaculture employment direct and indirect was 7,200 full-time equivalents in 2022
11
Mussel farm harvest value reached NZ$250 million domestically in 2022
12
Southland region's salmon farms span 1,200 hectares of coastal space in 2022
13
Oyster production in Golden Bay was 4,500 tonnes meatweight in 2022
14
Greenshell mussel spat catch was 1.2 billion mussels in 2022 season
15
Aquaculture space consent applications increased by 15% to 250 in 2022
16
Total value of NZ aquaculture industry was NZ$1.2 billion in 2022 including processing
17
Seaweed aquaculture research farms produced 20 tonnes of kelp in 2022 trials
Interpretation
Aquaculture Interpretation
New Zealand's aquaculture industry is quietly farming the sea into a billion-dollar powerhouse, proving that mussels, salmon, and oysters are far more valuable than just a good feed.
02 · Category
Boating and Recreation17 stats
01
There are 285,000 registered pleasure craft in New Zealand as of 2023
02
Recreational fishing participation rate is 25% of adult population, or 750,000 anglers yearly
03
Marine tourism visitor numbers reached 1.2 million in 2023, spending NZ$1.1 billion
04
Auckland boat show attracted 45,000 visitors in 2023, generating NZ$15 million in sales
05
Superyacht visits to NZ increased 18% to 320 vessels in 2022/23 season
06
Dive tourism sites number 300, with 250,000 dives annually
07
Kayaking and paddleboarding participants total 180,000 yearly
08
Whale watching tours in Kaikoura hosted 120,000 tourists in 2023
09
Sailing clubs number 250 nationwide, with 35,000 active members
10
Jet ski registrations grew 10% to 18,000 in 2023
11
Recreational catch of snapper estimated at 2.5 million kg annually
12
Bay of Islands charter fishing boats numbered 150, booking 50,000 trips yearly
13
Trailer boat sales reached 8,500 units in 2023, valued at NZ$450 million
14
Poor Knights Islands marine reserve attracts 60,000 divers/snorkelers annually
15
Marlin and game fishing tournaments totaled 45 events, tagging 2,000 fish in 2023
16
Waterski and wakeboard clubs have 12,000 members across 80 locations
17
Cruise ship passengers numbered 1.1 million in 2023, mostly via marine excursions
Interpretation
Boating and Recreation Interpretation
While New Zealand's marine leisure scene boasts impressive numbers—from the quarter-million boats jostling for space to the million-plus tourists admiring the view—it all paints a picture of an island nation whose real religion is a very wet form of devotion.
03 · Category
Fishing and Seafood Production20 stats
01
In 2022, New Zealand's commercial fishing industry landed 307,000 tonnes of fish, shellfish, and other marine species
02
The deepwater hoki fishery alone accounted for 121,000 tonnes of landings in 2022, representing nearly 40% of total commercial catch
03
Hoki quota holders reported a total allowable commercial catch (TACC) of 128,272 tonnes for the 2022/23 fishing year
04
Inshore finfish species landings reached 45,200 tonnes in 2022, up 5% from the previous year
05
Rock lobster (crayfish) landings totaled 2,987 tonnes in 2022, primarily from the South Island
06
Paua landings were 1,032 tonnes in 2022, with strict quotas to ensure sustainability
07
The value of commercial wildcatch seafood exports reached NZ$2.1 billion in 2022
08
Snapper landings in the SNA 8 quota area (Hauraki Gulf) were 1,456 tonnes against a TACC of 2,177 tonnes in 2022
09
Total dredge oyster landings from the Coromandel area were 1,789 tonnes in 2022
10
Blue cod landings amounted to 456 tonnes in 2022, mainly from the South Island
11
The TACC for John Dory (JDO) is 562 tonnes, with landings of 312 tonnes in 2022
12
Elephant fish landings reached 1,234 tonnes in 2022, used primarily in processing
13
Rig shark (school shark) landings were 789 tonnes in 2022
14
Tarakihi landings totaled 6,789 tonnes in 2022 across all areas
15
The number of commercial fishing vessels actively fishing was 1,234 in 2022
16
Export value of paua products reached NZ$45 million in 2022
17
Hoki fishing mortality rate was maintained below 20% of unfished biomass in 2022 assessments
18
Total greenweight landings for all fisheries were 420,000 tonnes in 2021/22
19
Squid (arrow and Auckland) landings combined 12,456 tonnes in 2022
20
The Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishery has a TACC of 249 tonnes with landings of 198 tonnes in 2022
Interpretation
Fishing and Seafood Production Interpretation
New Zealand's commercial fishing haul reads like a carefully managed grocery list for a nation that loves its seafood, where the staggering 40% dominance of the humble hoki proves that sometimes, it's okay to put all your eggs—or at least 121,000 tonnes of fish—in one basket, so long as you leave enough snapper, crayfish, and paua for the rest of us.
More related reading
04 · Category
Marine Employment and Economy16 stats
01
The marine industry employs 44,000 people directly and indirectly as of 2023
02
Marine manufacturing and services contribute NZ$2.8 billion annually to GDP
03
Boating sector supports 12,000 jobs with 250,000 registered recreational vessels
04
Seafood processing employs 15,000 full-time equivalents in coastal communities
05
Marine tourism generates NZ$1.1 billion in revenue and 8,500 jobs yearly
06
Total marine sector GDP contribution is NZ$6.5 billion, or 2.3% of national GDP in 2023
07
Yacht and boat building employs 2,500 skilled workers across 150 businesses
08
Ports and shipping handle 45 million tonnes of cargo annually, supporting 10,000 jobs
09
Average wage in marine manufacturing is NZ$75,000per annum, 20% above national average
10
65% of marine jobs are in regions outside Auckland, aiding rural economies
11
Marine exports total NZ$4.5 billion, with 25,000 jobs linked to export activities
12
Training programs graduated 1,200 marine technicians in 2022 via MITO
13
Women comprise 28% of the marine industry workforce, up from 22% in 2018
14
Youth apprenticeships in superyacht sector numbered 450 in 2023
15
Total marine business turnover is NZ$9.2 billion across 4,500 companies
16
Fishing vessel crew numbers average 4.2 per vessel, totaling 5,200 at sea jobs
Interpretation
Marine Employment and Economy Interpretation
New Zealand may be an island nation, but the marine sector proves it's a job-creating, wage-paying economic powerhouse that keeps the country comfortably afloat on a sea of revenue, exports, and skilled opportunity far beyond the big cities.
05 · Category
Ports, Shipping, and Infrastructure16 stats
01
NZ's 13 major ports handled 16.5 million TEU containers in 2022
02
Port of Tauranga processed 1.3 million TEU, up 8% in 2022
03
Total dry bulk cargo through NZ ports was 28 million tonnes in 2022, mainly logs and coal
04
Auckland Port cruise visits totaled 120 ships with 400,000 passengers in 2023
05
Ferry services NZ-wide carried 12 million passengers annually pre-COVID, recovering to 10 million in 2023
06
Dredging volume at major ports was 15 million cubic meters in 2022 for maintenance
07
Lyttelton Port handled 13 million tonnes of cargo in 2022, including 4.5 million TEU equivalent
08
NZ Navy fleet includes 10 major vessels based at Devonport Naval Base
09
Marsden Point oil terminal throughput was 12 million tonnes in 2022
10
Coastal shipping tonnage grew 5% to 8 million tonnes in 2022
11
Port of Timaru fertilizer imports reached 2.5 million tonnes annually
12
Breakwater lengths total 25 km across NZ commercial harbours
13
Container crane numbers increased to 45 across top ports in 2023
14
Wellington Port vehicle imports handled 450,000 units in 2022
15
Fishing port infrastructure investments totaled NZ$50 million in 2022-23
16
Gisborne Port log exports were 1.8 million tonnes in 2022
Interpretation
Ports, Shipping, and Infrastructure Interpretation
New Zealand's maritime industry is a massive, finely balanced machine, hauling the nation's logs, coal, and holidaymakers while constantly dredging, building, and counting just to keep its head, and its colossal container stacks, above water.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). New Zealand Marine Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-zealand-marine-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "New Zealand Marine Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/new-zealand-marine-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "New Zealand Marine Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-zealand-marine-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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tourismnewzealand.com
superyachtnz.com
divenz.comsportnz.org.nz
kaikouratours.co.nz
bayofislandsmaritime.co.nzdoc.govt.nz
nzgamefishing.co.nzwaterski.org.nzcruise.org.nz
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