Fish Reproductive Biology: Implications for Assessment and Management

The reproductive success and recruitment of young fish into the exploitable population is the single most important factor for determining annual abundance levels of fishes in major commercial fisheries. The objective of this important new book is to argue for stronger linkages between basic and applied research on fisheries recruitment.

Contents include an introduction to recruitment, information on fisheries biology and population dynamics and how these relate to recruitment, information critical to the rational and successful management and assessment of fisheries, the incorporation of reproductive biology and recruitment considerations into management advice and strategies, and suggestions for future possibilities and new approaches. This book is essential reading for all fisheries scientists.

Chapter 1. Introduction (Tore Jakobsen, Michael J. Fogarty, Bernard A. Megrey and Erlend Moksness). Section 1. Biology, population dynamics, and recruitment. Chapter 2. Recruitment in Marine Populations (Michael J. Fogarty and Loretta O'Brien). Chapter 3. Reproductive dynamics (D. Pavlov, N. Emel'yanova and G.G. Novikov). Chapter 4. Recruitment Variability (Edward D. Houde). Chapter 5. Effects of fishing on the population (Marie-Joelle Rochet). Section 2: Information critical to successful assessment and management. Chapter 6. Egg, larval and juvenile surveys (Nancy C.H. Lo, Paul E. Smith and Motomitsu Takahashi). Chapter 7. Stock identification (Gavin A. Begg and Steven X. Cadrin). Chapter 8. Stock assessment models and predictions of catch and biomass (John G. Pope). Chapter 9. Applied fish reproductive biology: contribution of individual reproductive. potential to recruitment and fisheries management (Olav S. Kjesbu). Section 3: Incorporation of reproductive biology and recruitment considerations into management advice and strategies. Chapter 10. Current paradigms and forms of advice (K. Cochrane). Chapter 11. Management: New Approaches to Old Problems (Carl O'Brien). Chapter 12. Implementing information on stock reproductive potential in fisheries management: the motivation, the challenges and the opportunities (C. Tara Marshall)

This book would certainly be an excellent choice for a reading course. ... This is the kind of book that challenges the dogma of introductory courses as well as the methods professionals use to address familiar problems. Each chapter provides personal perspectives, highlights emerging case histories, and illuminates the background conversations that go on at professional conferences and assessment workshops. (Fisheries, March 2010)

Tore Jakobsen, Institute of Marine Research, Norway Michael J Fogarty, University of Maryland, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, USA Bernard A. Megrey, Alaska Fisheries Center, Seattle, USA Erlend Moksness, Ministry of Fisheries, Institute of Marine Research, Norway