Hierarchical Perspectives On Marine Complexities

The Gulf of Maine supports a vital fishery for North America and is one of themost intensely studied marine ecosystems in the world. An understanding of itsecol... » 

The Gulf of Maine supports a vital fishery for North America and is one of themost intensely studied marine ecosystems in the world. An understanding of itsecology has practical applications to management of other marine systems andfisheries. This book is the first application of Hierarchy Theory to theecological workings of the Gulf of Maine and of marine ecosystems in general.Hierarchy Theory offers a perspective that simplifies the apparentcomplications and contradictions of ecosystems which encompass a number ofscales of time from minutes to decades or longer and of space fromcentimeters to kilometers. Spencer Apollonio explores in detail the idea ofnatural constraints inherent in hierarchical ecosystems and the impact uponsuch systems when constraints are reduced or removed. He argues thatconventional fisheries management which practices the removal of theseconstraints may be doomed to failure. Apollonio focuses in particular on thegroundfish crisis in the Gulf the precipitous decline due to overfishing inpopulations of cod haddock pollock hakes and various types of flounderswhich have together constituted the mainstay of the Maine fishing industry forcenturies. Hierarchical Perspectives on Marine Complexities presents acompelling case for a new approach that holds the promise of resourcesustainability in the face of enormously complicated natural and culturalforces. «