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

The fishery has been closed since 2018, when the commission shut it down in response to a dramatic population decline along Northern California’s coastline, prompting regulators to enact what was initially intended to be a temporary ban. —Chaewon Chung december 11, Sacbee.com, 11 Dec. 2025

The storm destroyed harvests, forests and fisheries, Castro said. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Dec. 2025

Data gathered by the Great Lakes center is used to develop ways to protect and manage the region's fisheries, which make up a $7 billion industry. —Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Though there were no human fatalities or injuries, the oil spread to 69 miles of shore, closed fisheries and killed more than 6800 birds. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025

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