Wild capture fisheries involve the extraction of aquatic animals from natural environments for use as food, materials, or industrial inputs. Animals are located, captured, and removed using gear systems such as nets, lines, and traps, operating across marine and freshwater ecosystems as part of large-scale harvesting operations.

While methods vary by species, geography, and target stock, the underlying structure remains consistent: wild populations are systematically exploited through organised capture efforts, with effort, technology, and fleet operations coordinated to maximise yield. These systems function as extractive industries, integrating vessels, gear, processing, and distribution within global supply chains.

See it by species

This index includes species that are captured from wild aquatic environments within organised fishing systems, regardless of region or scale.