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

Growth of wild oysters also tends to be slower, and the yields can be less predictable because in many commercial fisheries, wild oysters must reach a minimum legal size—often around 3 inches—before harvest. —Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026

Standridge is an unyielding advocate for sustainable fisheries, and the whole concept behind Mystic Fish Camp, in a sense, is to banish the lobster roll from Connecticut. —Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026

Odran Corcoran, a policy advisor for Oceana, said that only by collecting data out of the depths of the still relatively unknown ocean can lawmakers use data to regulate the management of fisheries, marine protection and restoration projects. —ABC News, 4 June 2026

The good ones buy from regional farms and local fisheries, update old recipes without losing their connection to the past, and put scraps, bones, and spent grain to work instead of tossing them. —Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 30 May 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