The work aims to prepare a new type of degradable composite preservative film and study its preservation effect on carp. A new type of intercalated layered double hydrotalcite--dehydroacetic acid intercalated layered double hy-drotalcite (MgAl-DHA-LDHs) was synthesized by ion exchange method. MgAl-DHA-LDHs/pectin composite film was prepared with pectin as the matrix, glycerin as the plasticizer and MgAl-DHA-LDHs as filler. The MgAl-DHA-LDHs and the composite preservative film were characterized respectively by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FI-IR). The effects of the addition of the MgAl-DHA-LDHs on the preservation effect of carp were studied. The results showed that, the dehydroacetate was successfully intercalated into LDHs. The carp was best preserved when the mass fraction of MgAl-DHA-LDHs was 0.2%. The total viable count, thiobarbituric acid value (TBARs), total volatile basic nitrogen value (TVB-N) and pH of the blank group were higher than those of each treatment group. The proposed composite preservative film has good preservation effect on carp, and it can extend the shelf life by about 5-6 d.