Overfishing: What Everyone Needs to Know

by Ray Hilborn

Over the past twenty years considerable public attention has been focused on the decline of marine fisheries, the sustainability of world fish production, and the impacts of fishing on marine ecosystems. Many have voiced their concerns about marine conservation, as well as the sustainable and ethical consumption of fish. But are fisheries in danger of collapse? Will we soon need to find ways to replace this food system? Should we be worried that we could be fishing certain species to extinction? Can commercial fishing be carried out in a sustainable way? While overblown prognoses concerning the dire state of fisheries are plentiful, clear scientific explanations of the basic issues surrounding overfishing are less so - and there remains great confusion about the actual amount of overfishing and its ecological impact.

What Everyone Needs to Know ® will provide a balanced explanation of the broad issues associated with overfishing. Guiding readers through the scientific, political, economic, and ethical issues associated with harvesting fish from the ocean, it will provide answers to questions about which fisheries are sustainably managed and which are not. Ray and Ulrike Hilborn address topics including historical overfishing, high seas fisheries, recreational fisheries, illegal fishing, climate and fisheries, trawling, economic and biological overfishing, and marine protected areas. In order to illustrate the effects of each of these issues, they will incorporate case studies of different species of fish.

Overall, the authors present a hopeful view of the future of fisheries. Most of the world's fisheries are not overfished, and many once overfished stocks are now rebuilding. In fact, we can learn from the management failures and successes to ensure that fisheries are sustainable and contribute to national wealth and food security. Concise and clear, this book presents a compelling "big picture" of the state of oceans and the solutions to ending overfishing.

What Everyone Needs to Know ® is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Oatmeal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good primer for those interested in understanding the overfishing battle between environmentalists and conservationists that has been such an issue these past 10 years or so.
I'm a fisheries biologist by trade. The lack of data and the lack of more detailed information about typical statistical models used in fisheries management in this book annoyed me. However, this short book is decent enough for the general public especially those that are not very familiar with the issue(s).

[Don Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not an easy read, but if you want to understand the problems facing the fishing industry and the methods avaiable to control it, this is a good place to start.

[Daniel.Leroux23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is well-structured with organized chapters, and it avoids favoring only the viewpoint of ecologists. Instead, it takes into account also the interests of fisheries when discussing the issues at hand.

Each chapter follows a question-based format, which enhances readability. The book's case studies on topics like Canadian Cod, loco snail, Blue Fin Tuna, whaling, haddock, and Striped bass provide concise yet insightful analyses.

As someone studying for a Master's Degree in Conservation Biology, with lectures about Marine Conservation, I found the book to be a comprehensive review of solutions to address overfishing. However, what pleasantly surprised me was its inclusion of evidence that challenges the notion of trawling causing significant impacts in specific areas, as well as evidence of its destructive power. In these days I feel this neutral standpoint is rare and valuable.

[Drew Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great material for people involved in fisheries or even if you just want to get a good understanding of overfishing. Hilborn presents a much more optimistic view on world fisheries compared to the doom and gloom outlook of his counterpart, Daniel Pauley.

Nonetheless, he still acknowledges that there is a large number of fisheries that are not sustainable. With the right systems in place, fisheries around the world can be sustainable, it just requires an active commitment from all parties.

[Aaron]

This was a generally fair and even-handed explanation and appraisal of how not just overfishing but regular fishing work - how different management strategies impact yield, economics, communities and ecosystems. Major props for communicating complex ideas in easy-to-understand language, and for acknowledging that many issues in fishery management are about choices and that sustainable catches are distinct from intact or restored ecosystems.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good overview of the complexities of fisheries science and management, focused primarily on the US. There were a few details I thought incorrect or lacking nuance but overall, very good.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with interesting facts about commercial and recreational fishing, the ecological ramifications of fishing and information on how fishery regulations work. I enjoyed learning about why a fish I enjoyed eating in the 70's and 80's, orange roughy, was no longer available in stores. I also appreciated gaining a better understanding of the various organizations that regulate fishing and how recommendations and limits are set. So why not a higher rating? The writing was the culprit. While listening to the audio I found myself thinking "I just heard that" only to have a slightly different end to the sentence. Basically the text needed a good editing. Still valuable information though.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting format. They posit a series of questions and then proceed to answer the question. The information is pretty superficial, with not much detail, but overall the book covers the issue of overfishing and fish conservation well.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the saving the fish and the ocean they live in.

[☃️ Quirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Economic overusing does not equal environmental overfishing
2. West coast fish are mostly well stocked
3. Japanese “research” of whales means they can cut them open and such