Socio-economic status and occupational mobility of China’s Fishery Population: A quantitative analysis based on social-survey data

China ranks as the first fishery nation globally in terms of its fishery production, with a total production of more than 67 million metric tons in 2022. More than 16 million people work in and earn their livelihoods from fisheries, directly or indirectly. A better understanding of the characteristics of this large group of people could lead to an improved appreciation of the human dimensions of China’s fisheries. In this study, we analyze longitudinal social-survey data from 1989 to 2015 to derive several key indicators representing the socio-economic status of China’s fishery population. We find that, first, the size of the fishery population is shrinking. Second, the average age of the fishery population is increasing but at a slower rate than in the total population. Third, the education levels of the fishery population are rising but remain below those of urban residents. Fourth, the incomes of the fishery population have grown considerably, albeit more slowly than those of the general rural population and the urban population. Fifth, the employment of the fishery population is exhibiting a high degree of dynamism, with high rates of occupational mobility between the fishing sector and other sectors. • China’s fishery population is shrinking. • The fishery population is aging but at a slower rate than the total population. • The fishery population's education levels are rising but remain below urban residents'. • The fishery population's incomes are growing but lag behind rural and urban residents'. • The fishery population has high occupational mobility between fishing and other sectors.