NAICS 114111

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the U.S. standard for organizing business establishments so federal statistical agencies can collect, analyze, and publish economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS is jointly maintained with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI and is currently structured around the 2022 vintage. ⁵

114111 Finfish Fishing covers establishments primarily engaged in the commercial catching or taking of finfish from their natural habitats. Official examples include bluefish, salmon, trout, and tuna. Cross-references distinguish aquaculture and processing activities classified elsewhere. ¹

What this NAICS covers

• Commercial capture of finfish from natural habitats (wild-caught operations)
• Marine or inland finfish harvesting conducted for sale as a business activity
• Use of fishing vessels and crews dedicated to finfish catching operations
• Landing finfish for first sale prior to any off-vessel processing
• Operations focused on catching finfish species rather than shellfish or other marine animals
• Business establishments whose primary activity is finfish catching as defined by industry classification

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	112511	Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries
NAICS	114112	Shellfish Fishing
NAICS	114119	Other Marine Fishing
NAICS	311711	Seafood Canning

Cross‑references and exclusions

• Farm raising of finfish belongs in 112511 (Animal Aquaculture), not in 114111. ¹
• Catching or taking shellfish is classified under 114112. ¹
• “Floating factory ships” that both gather and can seafood are classified in 311711. ¹
• Catching marine animals other than finfish or shellfish falls under 114119. ¹

Frequently asked questions

• How is NAICS 114111 different from 112511?

  114111 covers the wild capture of finfish from oceans, coastal waters, and inland bodies. In contrast, 112511 covers finfish farming and hatchery operations under controlled conditions (aquaculture). They are mutually exclusive classifications for capture versus cultivation activities. ¹

• Are onboard processing and canning part of 114111?

  No. Finfish fishing is limited to capture and landing for first sale. Vessels or facilities that both gather and process/can seafood (“floating factory ships”) are classified under seafood canning, not finfish fishing, and are assigned to 311711. ¹

• What is the SBA small business size standard for NAICS 114111?

  The SBA size standard for this industry is $25.0 million in average annual receipts (effective March 17, 2023). Always verify the current table and footnotes in the official SBA publication before applying to a procurement. ²

• Which NAICS vintage applies today and how often is NAICS updated?

  NAICS is updated every five years. Federal agencies are implementing the 2022 NAICS across statistical and administrative programs on a published schedule that extends through 2027, so check program-specific timelines when classifying data or solicitations. ³

• Who assigns NAICS codes to federal solicitations that might involve finfish?

  Contracting officers assign the NAICS code to each solicitation and award in line with SBA rules, including 13 CFR 121.402 and related guidance. That designation determines which SBA small business size standard applies to the procurement. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 114111 overview
• Census — NAICS 114111 (2022) details and cross-references. ¹
• SBA — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). ²
• Census — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS and adoption timeline. ³
• Census NAICS — Introduction and search. ⁵

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS 114111 Finfish Fishing (2022). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=114111&year=2022
2. U.S. Small Business Administration, Table of Small Business Size Standards (Effective March 17, 2023). https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf
3. U.S. Census Bureau, The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (overview, impacts, and timeline). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. U.S. Small Business Administration, Small business size standards (NAICS designation for contracts; references 13 CFR 121.402). https://www.sba.gov/partners/contracting-officials/small-business-procurement/small-business-size-standards
5. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS — Introduction and search. https://www.census.gov/naics/