Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries : A Critical Appraisal of Catches and Ecosystem Impacts

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Product Description Until now, there has been only one source of data on global fishery catches: information reported to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations by member countries. An extensive, ten-year study conducted by The Sea Around Us Project of the University of British Columbia shows that this catch data is fundamentally misleading. Many countries underreport the amount of fish caught (some by as much as 500%), while others such as China significantly overreport their catches. The Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries is the first and only book to provide accurate, country-by-country fishery data. This groundbreaking information has been gathered from independent sources by the world’s foremost fisheries experts, and edited by Daniel Pauly and Dirk Zeller of the Sea Around Us Project. The Atlas includes one-page reports on 272 nations or regions, plus fourteen topical global chapters. National reports describe the state of the country’s fishery, by sector; the policies, politics, and social factors affecting it; and potential solutions. The global chapters address cross-cutting issues, from the economics of fisheries to the impacts of mariculture. Extensive maps and graphics offer attractive and accessible visual representations. While it has long been clear that the world’s oceans are in trouble, the lack of reliable data on fishery catches has obscured the scale, and nuances, of the crisis. The atlas shows that, globally, catches have declined rapidly since the 19805, signalling an even more critical situation than previously understood. The Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries provides a comprehensive picture of our current predicament and steps that can be taken to ease it. For researchers, students, fishery managers, professionals in the fishing industry, and all others concerned with the status of the world’s fisheries, the Atlas will be an indispensable resource. Review “A science-steeped volume that tells the story of finding the clearer window into fisheries we have today through the research itself…this data empowers fellow biologists, NGOs and policymakers to begin chipping away at the problems that face fisheries worldwide.” –Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation, University of York, England “Mongabay””Accurate data on catches is critical…thanks to [The Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries]…we have a much better knowledge of how much fish is being caught from the ocean.”–John Tanzer, Director, Global Marine Program, World Wildlife International “Journal of Fish Biology””Excellent fundamental background reading: from the sobering position of worldwide fish stocks, the economic and technical conditions, regulatory options up to individual country profiles, the reader is furnished with a rich treasure of information…For all those closely interested in or associated with the sea, this atlas is strongly recommended.” –John Tanzer, Director, Global Marine Program, World Wildlife International “MarineForum””Highly informative and intellectually compelling…Pauly and Zeller’sAtlas will provide considerable grist for thoughtful discussion, reflection, and argument.”–John Tanzer, Director, Global Marine Program, World Wildlife International “Ocean Yearbook””This book is the first to provide detailed fishery catch data covering literally the entire world’s oceans…The atlas will be an indispensable resource and should inspire the management of marine fisheries in ways that will restore their productivity as opposed to accentuating their decline.–John Tanzer, Director, Global Marine Program, World Wildlife International “Conservation Biology””This packed volume offers an all-you-can-eat buffet of information on global fisheries catches: comprehensive and provocative.”–Boris Worm, Professor in Marine Conservation Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada “Mongabay””This timely publication makes a very significant contribution to our understanding o