fishery

noun

fish·​ery ˈfi-shə-rē 

plural fisheries

1

: the occupation, industry, or season of taking fish or other sea animals (such as sponges, shrimp, or seals) : fishing

2

: a place for catching fish or taking other sea animals

3

: a fishing establishment

also : its fishermen

4

: the legal right to take fish at a particular place or in particular waters

5

: the technology of fishery

—usually used in plural

Examples of fishery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the combination of a lingering marine heat wave and a strengthening El Niño resembles the conditions that preceded widespread disruptions to fisheries, marine mammals and seabirds along California and the West Coast. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 July 2026

This is myth, and fisheries biologists know that pike do feed during the hot months just as other fish do. — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026

Blanket bans may seem like an obvious solution, yet fisheries management rarely operates in a world of simple answers and restricting certain catches could affect livelihoods, food security and community traditions. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Entire communities were built around the fishery, and more than 10 percent of the province’s population worked in the industry. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

fishery

noun

fish·​ery ˈfish-(ə-)rē 

plural fisheries

1

: the activity or business of fishing

2

: a place or establishment for catching fish