In a Perfect Ocean

Recdecades have been marked by the decline or collapse of one fishery after another around the world, from swordfish in the North Atlantic to orange roughy in the South Pacific. While the effects of a collapse on local economies and fishing-dependcommunities have generated much discussion, little attention has been paid to its impacts on the overall health of the ocean's ecosystems.In a Perfect Ocean: The State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean presents the first empirical assessmof the status of ecosystems in the North Atlantic ocean. Drawing on a wide range of studies including original research conducted for this volume, the authors analyze 14 large marine ecosystems to provide an indisputable picture of an ocean whose ecology has been dramatically altered, resulting in a phenomenon described by the authors as &quote;fishing down the food web.&quote; The book provides a snapshot of the past health of the North Atlantic and compares it to its presstatus; presents a rigorous scientific assessmbased on key criteria; considers the factors that have led to the currsituation; describes the policy options available for halting the decline; and offers recommendations for restoring the North Atlantic. This is the first in a series of assessments by the world's leading marine scientists, entitled &quote;The State of the World's Oceans.&quote; In a Perfect Ocean: The State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean is a landmark study, the first of its kind to make a comprehensive, ecosystem-based assessmof the North Atlantic Ocean, and will be essential reading for policymakers at the state, national, and international level concerned with fisheries management, as well for scientists, researchers, and activists concerned with marine issues or fishing and the fisheries industry.