This study aimed to establish the public interest functions of fisheries and fishing villages, which is intended to help introduce and expand the public-purpose direct payment system in the fisheries sector. Firstly, this study looked at trends related to the public interest functions of domestic and foreign cases in similar fields in order to get implications for establishing public service functions in fisheries and fishing villages. Secondly, three criteria were defined for establishing the public interest functions of fisheries and fishing villages. Thirdly, the public interest functions of fisheries and fishing villages were defined through prior research, analysis of overseas cases, and consultation with experts in the fields of fisheries and fishing villages. As a result, the six public interest functions and the 14 detailed functions were defined. Finally, this study established a direction for preserving and improving the public interest functions of fisheries and fishing villages, and presented strategies for achieving them.