Migration and distribution of aquatic animals have always been considered as the research hotspots of aquatic ecology, and the aim is to understand the pattern of migration and the relationship between migration and environmental factors. This kind of research plays an important role in the protection and management strategy of aquatic animals. Monitor by tagging, prediction by species distribution models, speculation based on analysis of microchemistry and stable isotope recorded in organism tissues are the three main methods and have widely been used in the research aspects including species distribution under climate influence. The three methods consist of many technological tools, models and test contents in its own method system respectively, but little study has focused on the summary of these methods, and collaborative usage of the three methods has not received high attention. So the three main methods for understanding migration and distribution of aquatic animals were reviewed. Meanwhile, literature research on migration and distribution of aquatic animals using related methods was introduced to some extent. The three methods were recognized as effective tools for understanding migration and distribution of aquatic animals, and the present study has focused on the comparison among the different means which were used in each of the three methods, but little research has displayed high value on collaborative usage of the three methods. In addition, statistical analysis of catch can be used to know the migration pattern of fishes and other fishery resources in fishery. The suggestions listed in this paper can provide good reference for the research on migration and distribution of aquatic animals.