A brief introduction to the research work and methodology of a number of foreign fisheries research institutes is reviewed in this paper, focusing on research fields such as the marine ecosystems, ecosystem restoration, sustainable use of marine resources, environmental monitoring, pollution monitoring and control, fishing technology optimizing, ecological and industrialized aquaculture, application of genetic technology for breeding improved species, the gene database of important species, the early development and sexual maturation of fish, etc. A brief comparison is made between research fields of China and foreign institutes.