The fishing industry makes an important contribution to Hong Kong in maintaining a steady supply of fresh marine fish to local consumers. In 2009, it produced an estimated 159,000 tonnes of fisheries produce valued at $2,000 million. The industry now consists of some 3,700 fishing vessels and some 7,600 fishermen working abroad and provides employment in ancillary sectors servicing the fishing industry, such as fish wholesale and retail marketing, fuel and fishing gear supply and ice manufacturing.

Fishing activities are mainly conducted in the waters of the adjacent continental shelf in the South and East China Seas. The majority of the fishing vessels are manned by family members with the assistance of hired crew. Main fishing methods include trawling (pair trawling, stern trawling, shrimp trawling and hang trawling), long lining, gill netting, purse-seining, hand lining and cage trapping, with the majority of the total catch obtained through trawling.