Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Fishing, Hunting And Trapping Market is projected to expand from USD 522.34 Billion in 2025 to USD 690.84 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 4.77%. This sector encompasses both commercial and recreational entities focused on capturing aquatic life, game animals, and wildlife for purposes ranging from food production and raw material sourcing to leisure activities. The market's growth is primarily fueled by the escalating global demand for high-protein food sources and the vigorous expansion of the outdoor tourism industry, which encourages recreational engagement. Furthermore, economic stability in major regions facilitates increased consumer spending on essential equipment and licenses, with the American Sportfishing Association estimating that the sportfishing industry will contribute over 230.5 billion USD annually to the United States economy in 2025.

Despite this positive trajectory, the market confronts significant obstacles due to rigorous regulatory frameworks designed to prevent overexploitation and conserve biodiversity. Governments and international organizations are increasingly implementing stricter quotas and designating protected areas, measures that directly restrict operational volumes for commercial businesses and limit recreational access. This regulatory pressure is further exacerbated by environmental shifts that disrupt animal habitats, adding layers of complexity to supply chain stability and jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of traditional harvesting locations.

Market Drivers

The escalating global demand for seafood and animal protein acts as a major engine for the commercial sector of the fishing, hunting, and trapping market. As world populations grow and dietary habits increasingly favor nutrient-rich aquatic foods, commercial operators are intensifying their efforts to satisfy these consumption needs, prompting significant investment in fleet modernization and processing infrastructure to guarantee food security. The magnitude of production necessary to meet this demand is substantial, with the Food and Agriculture Organization reporting in June 2024 that global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 223.2 million tonnes in 2022. This volume underscores the sector's economic vitality, further highlighted by the Norwegian Seafood Council's report that Norway exported seafood valued at NOK 172 billion in 2023.

Parallel to commercial growth, the expansion of recreational fishing and hunting tourism adds significant diversity to market revenue, extending beyond basic food production. This segment thrives on the experiential economy, where consumers allocate considerable disposable income toward licenses, specialized equipment, and travel to premier harvesting locations, effectively transforming subsistence activities into widespread leisure pursuits. The rise of outdoor tourism packages and guided expeditions has broadened the demographic reach of these activities, stimulating ancillary markets for manufacturers and hospitality providers. This growing enthusiasm is evident in data from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, which noted in May 2024 that fishing participation in the United States hit a historic peak of 57.7 million participants in 2023.

Market Challenges

Strict regulatory frameworks represent a major hurdle for the global fishing, hunting, and trapping market by imposing direct limits on the volume of resources enterprises are permitted to harvest. To mitigate overexploitation, governments and international bodies are rigorously enforcing quota systems and expanding protected areas, creating a firm cap on production regardless of increasing market demand. As a result, companies face constrained revenue opportunities and heightened operational difficulties, requiring them to navigate a complex environment of compliance mandates, seasonal shutdowns, and exclusionary zones that physically restrict access to profitable grounds.

The economic strain caused by these regulations is compounded by the biological imperative behind them, ensuring that strict enforcement acts as a permanent constraint rather than a passing obstacle. As stock levels oscillate, regulatory authorities are forced to further reduce allowable harvest limits to preserve biodiversity, a necessity highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization's 2024 report indicating that 37.7 percent of global fish stocks were fished at biologically unsustainable levels. This statistic emphasizes the severity of supply limitations, as high rates of unsustainability inevitably lead to tighter controls and diminished commercial availability of essential species.

Market Trends

The incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning into commercial harvesting is transforming operational efficiency by superseding traditional intuition with data-driven accuracy. Commercial fleets are utilizing predictive algorithms to refine route planning and catch targeting, a practice that decreases fuel consumption and reduces overall operational expenses. This shift toward technological modernization is reflected in significant capital investments, with National Fisherman reporting in October 2024 that the seafood industry has directed over $610 million toward AI-related initiatives to bolster monitoring and automation. These advancements enable enterprises to maximize yields per expedition while simultaneously minimizing their fleet's resource footprint.

Concurrently, the market is experiencing a significant shift toward the use of biodegradable and sustainable gear materials aimed at mitigating the long-term ecological damage caused by derelict equipment. Manufacturers are creating nets and traps made from biopolymers that decompose naturally if lost, directly addressing the persistent problem of ghost fishing where abandoned gear continues to ensnare marine life. The necessity of this transition is underscored by the magnitude of the pollution issue; according to the Ocean Conservancy's August 2024 report, abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear accounts for between 70 percent and 86 percent of all floating macroplastics in ocean gyres by weight, driving market players to adopt innovations that align with environmental regulations.

Key Players Profiled in the Fishing, Hunting And Trapping Market

• Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd.
• Maruha Nichiro Corporation
• Leroy Seafood Group Asa
• Angler's Legacy
• American Sportfishing Association
• Keep America Fishing Organization
• National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers
• National Rifle Association

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Fishing, Hunting And Trapping Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping Market, by Type:

• Fishing
• Hunting
• Trapping

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping Market, by Application:

• Sportfishing Association
• Fishing Organization
• Others

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Fishing, Hunting And Trapping Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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