<p>Fisheries systems are inherently interdisciplinary, requiring the integration of ecological, socio-economic and institutional considerations into effective decision-making. As the world’s largest marine fishing nation and seafood consumer, China has recognized the need to improve fisheries sustainability. In recent years, national efforts to reform fisheries management have gained momentum, but progress remains constrained by the inadequacy of comprehensive, integrated understanding of fisheries—both on social and community dynamics, and on ecological changes driven by multiple pressures. This study uses the Bohai Sea as a case study to present a holistic review of the fisheries social-ecological system, providing a comprehensive overview of the characteristics, dynamics, and interactions across multiple dimensions. Drawing from this review and extensive engagement with diverse experts, we propose recommendations for Bohai Sea fisheries management and identify priority needs for broader national-level reforms. Specifically, key actions include: 1) developing climate-ready fisheries management approaches and practices, 2) prioritizing protection and restoration of critical habitats, 3) incorporating explicit ecological-social-economic objectives into fishery management plans, 4) developing tools and management approaches for small-scale and mixed fisheries, 5) increasing availability, transparency and integration of fisheries data, and 6) strengthening regulatory enforcement along with pre- and post-implementation evaluations. These findings offer a baseline understanding of the needs for improving Bohai Sea fisheries management from a multifaceted perspective. The framework and approach developed here can also be applied to other regional contexts or countries, contributing to the integration of multiple dimensions toward triple-bottom-line objectives (e.g., ecological, social and economic) in fisheries management.</p>