Scaling Fisheries: The Science of Measuring the Effects of Fishing, 1855-1955

by Tim D. Smith

Overview

Since the industrialization of fishing, fisheries scientists have been subject to intense economic and political pressures, which have affected the way the science has developed. The origins and effects of these pressures are traced in this book to concerns about determining the causes of fluctuations in fish and whale catches, and to resistance to regulation of fishing activity when populations are depleted. The development of partial theories of fish population dynamics are described using examples of both national and international fisheries. The causes of the difficulties encountered in generalizing these theories are examined, setting the stage for the limitation of scope of these studies that still influences the form and extent of fisheries research today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521038966
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/16/2007
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Applied Ecology and Resource Management
Pages:	412
Product dimensions:	6.57(w) x 9.53(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

Frontispiece; Acknowledgements; Units used in the text; Part I. Introduction: 1. Fluctuations, the very essence of ecosystems; Part II. Developing Methods, 1855–1940: 2. Research approaches, 1855–90; 3. Measuring the effect of fishing, 1890–1900; 4. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, 1900–20; 5. Predicting fluctuations, 1920–30; 6. A priori methods, 1930–40; Part III. Three Partial Theories, 1940–55: 7. Middling in size; 8. How many parents are enough?; 9. Steady state yield; 10. Integration: self-regenerating populations and the bionomic ecosystem; Notes; References; Index of people; Subject index.

Editorial Reviews

"...an insightful chronicle of fisheries science." Fisheries

"This gentle approach to the fallibility of Applied Fisheries Ecology is a balanced and well-written account of its development. Its stated objective is to provide an historical context for a situation in which science and management have a choice among three partial theories to explain fluctuations, but no comprehensive theory to help choose among them. It shows the foibles, successes and frustrations of applying such a science when conservation needs are opposed by conservative economic or social forces. Even by making these points, Smith helps achieve a valuable perspective." L. M. Dickie, Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists Newsletter

"...makes interesting reading for scientists and historians." J.H.S. Blaxter, Nature

"...The real contribution of this book is a clear exposition of the point that the early theiry of fisheries science was developed by scientists whose motivations and personalities are as interesting as their science. Smith does an excellent job in bringing this out. Highly recommended." R. Francis, Choice

"Tim Smith's text recreates for the reader the broad spectrum of the social, political, economic, and intellectual dimensions and dynamics within which modern fisheries management science developed and came of age....[E]ssential reading for anyone engaged in or interested in the practical problems of fisheries management....The book also has a much broader interest and utility as a meticulous and finely crafted history of science." Alan Christopher Finlayson, Isis

"[Readers] will be impressed. The wealth of documentation reveals more than a few personality clashes, further elaborated on in a colorful Notes section. The black-and-white figures are adapted from original papers and nicely complement the text. Mathematical treatments are presented in simple, logical and instructive fashion....It will be especially good background reading for instructors and students as they grapple with current fisheries theory and ponder the future." John J. Ney, Quarterly Review of Biology

"The text should be, and probably will become, required reading for post graduate students of fisheries population science....practicing fisheries biomatricians, and fisheries managers (i.e., regulators) as well, should consider the book required reading; they will find their time well spent." Michael L. Parrack, Bulletin of Marine Science

"...a welcome addition to the fisheries literature." Marine Resource Economics

"Scaling Fisheries adds considerably to our understanding of the historical development of fishery biology." Joseph E. Taylor III, The J.H.B. Bookshelf

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