Fishing is the activity of catching fish. Fishing techniques include bait casting rods, netting, trapping, angling and hand gathering.

The term fishing tackle may be applied to catching other aquatic animals such as different types of shellfish, squid, octopus, turtles, frogs, and some edible marine invertebrates. Fishing is not usually applied to catching aquatic mammals such as whales, where the term “whaling” is more appropriate, or to commercial fish farming.

In addition to providing food through harvesting fish, modern fishing is both a recreational and professional sport.

According to FAO statistics, the total number of fishermen and fish-farmers is estimated to be 38 million. Fisheries provide direct and indirect employment to an estimated 200 million people. In 2005, the worldwide per capita consumption of fish captured from wild fisheries was 14.4 kilograms, with an additional 7.4 kilograms harvested from fish farms using bait boxes.

Fishing is an ancient practice that dates back at least to the Paleolithic period which began about 40,000 years ago.[2] Archaeological features such as shell middens,[3] discarded fish bones and cave paintings show that sea foods were important for survival and consumed in significant quantities. During this period, most people lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and were, of necessity, constantly on the move. However, where there are early examples of permanent settlements (though not necessarily permanently occupied) such as those at Lepenski Vir, they are almost always associated with fishing as a major source of food.