Conservation of Fish and Shellfish Resources: Managing Diversity

Fish and shellfish comprise annually nearly 70 million tons of the world's edible animal protein, one-third of the animal protein consumed in the developing world. However, in many instances the often vast original stocks have been overexploited, and even driven to the point of extinction. Except for currently farmed species, little has been done to maintain and protect genetic stocks for replenishing affected areas. Indeed, maximizing harvests threatens genetic diversity and therefore future animal populations.
This volume addresses this, by reviewing the current status of genetic resource management, its needs and constraints, human impacts such as pollution, and problems posed by different species and life-styles, all in relation to sustainable commercial production and conservation. This complex picture is then illustrated by four contrasting groups: Atlantic salmon, cupped oysters, common and Chinese carps, and Nile tilapia.
Nine leading aquatic population and production geneticists, aquaculturalists, and behavioural and development ecologists have collaborated to produce this volume, which is the first to explore these important areas in aquatic biodiversity. This will be invaluable to all scientists, policy makers and advisors in their efforts to develop and coordinate real solutions to the conservation problems being posed in marine and freshwater environments.