All the Fish in the Sea

"A powerful book, with implications aplenty reaching far beyond the realm of fisheries management."--Sidney J. Holt, coauthor of On the Dynamics of Exploited Fish Populations "H-Environment" "Finley correctly observes that once fishing power sufficient to catch the maximum sustainable yield has been built, it generates pervasive political pressures that make dialing it back nearly impossible."--Carl Safina "Science" "Finley's monograph is a brilliant exploration of Cold War international politics and scientific intrigue."--Rodolfo John Alaniz, University of California, San Diego "Journal of the History of Biology" "Fisheries science and management are ripe for study by professional historians skilled in archival research and analysis. Here Carmel Finley applies both of these skills in abundance, focusing them on the great salmon and tuna fisheries of the North Pacific, and particularly the events surrounding the negotiations of the post-World War II peace treaty between Japan and the United States and the trilateral International Convention for the North Pacific Fisheries. She demonstrates how the ideas of the time percolated the 1958 conference on the Law of the Sea and, eventually, came to reside in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. As a true historian, Finley also reaches back to the origins of the concepts of fisheries science in the research and politics of the 1930s in Europe and North America, and relates the personalities of the major players with the institutional and political framework within which they were operating. A tour de force indeed."--Sidney J. Holt, coauthor of On the Dynamics of Exploited Fish Populations "Science" "The decline and collapse of world fisheries is repeatedly cited as exemplary of the 'tragedy of the commons'--the dilemma whereby individuals, acting in their own rational, individual self-interest, destroy a common good. Using extensive primary sources, Carmel Finley shows that this view is incorrect, and that the decline of fisheries had little to do with the inadvertent adverse impacts of individual action, and everything to do with deliberate governmental and international policy. Since the end of World War II, the United States has consciously pursued a policy of encouraging more and more and more fishing, a policy that had little to do with the needs or interests of fishermen (much less fish) and everything to do with U.S. strategic and economic interests. Not surprisingly, fishermen and fish suffered the consequences. It was a tragedy, but not of the commons. It was a tragedy of attempted enclosure. This is a very important book, one that no environmentalist can afford to ignore."--Naomi Oreskes, University of California, San Diego "Journal of Fish Biology" "This comprehensively referenced and highly readable precautionary tale should be read by everyone engaged in any aspect of fishery management--especially those who espouse the cause of MSY without question."--Sidney J. Holt, coauthor of On the Dynamics of Exploited Fish Populations "Journal of Fish Biology" "This little book, if read by key decision makers, should help to galvanize a reaction against the continuation of the fishery policy currently followed by most seafaring nations. . . . [Finley's] account of an important topic will be of value to students as well as professional biologists, politicians, and economists."--J. C. Briggs "Choice" "This short, very sharp book demonstrates how 'normal' science need not be very normal at all, nor necessarily overly scientific, to come out on top. It is the product of meticulous research and is written with rare skill and verve. . . . An instant classic."--J. C. Briggs "Isis" "This smart little book has all the trappings of a historical account, with endnotes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index,

Carmel Finley teaches in the Department of History at Oregon State University. She is coeditor of Two Paths toward Sustainable Forests: Public Values in Canada and the United States.