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

More disruption for ports and fisheries Each year, before fishing season begins, NOAA issues a series of scientific reports surveying fish populations and environmental conditions, a basic precaution to prevent permanent damage and overfishing along America’s coasts. —Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025

Some companies temporarily switched to algae oil during the price spike, only to revert once fisheries opened—highlighting a reactive approach that favors short-term cost savings over long-term resilience. —Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

Wouter Beke, a member of the European Parliament from Belgium — home to a substantial commercial fishing industry — sent the European Union executive body a letter urging it to include fishery rights as part of the deal. —Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 18 May 2025

Additionally, dam and reservoir operators rely on rainfall and snowfall forecasts to manage the water supply; fishermen in the $320 billion commercial fisheries sector rely on forecasts to stay safe, as do tourism and recreational boating communities. —Louis Uccellini, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 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