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

Scientists frequently work for industry—oil, fisheries, mining—and the government for a chance to access the seabed on shorter time scales and with better equipment. —Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025

The fisheries center employs more than 350 people, most of whom work at Montlake. —Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025

The agency also includes offices that manage the billions of dollars of U.S. fishery resources, like tuna, cod, scallops and crab. —Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025

To reduce shark mortality, many regional and national fishery managers have turned to species-specific retention bans. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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