Agriculture and fisheries / Nekesah T. Wafullah and Kuria C. Munene.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Fisheries -- Fishes -- Food and feeding -- Fish growth -- Fisheries management -- Fishing gear and its regulation -- Technical measures in responsible fisheries -- Tools for sustainable fisheries management.

"Coastal cultures have relied on trade and commerce for millennia since the sea has always provided crucial sustenance for humankind. These commercial activities among coastal cultures have resulted in the current fishery systems. The fishery can refer to either a business that involves producing or harvesting fish or other aquatic life, or, more typically, the location of such a business. In the initial stages of fishing, the paradigm of inexhaustibility was widely accepted among fishery stakeholders. However, with time the paradigm doesn't hold. It became abundantly obvious by the second half of the 20th century, with the growth of large-scale industrial fishing and far-off fleets, that humans have the potential to outperform exploited marine communities in terms of output, leading to resource depletion and yield loss. With this realization, a lot of scientific efforts to support awareness and resource management have been put in place and are continually being updated.
Fisheries provide economic support to about 500 million people worldwide. Due to their significance for economies and communities, fisheries are subject to complex regulatory frameworks and management practices that differ substantially between different countries. Traditionally, fisheries were managed on a "first-come, first-served" basis, but increasing pressures from human overfishing and environmental concerns have called for increased control of fisheries to lessen conflict and encourage lucrative commercial activity on the fishery. International treaties and region-al laws frequently work together to govern modern fisheries management. Due to diminishing fish populations, marine pollution, and the destruction of essential coastal habitats, the largest fisheries in the world are in danger. This endangers the economic and food security of many parts of the world. These challenges are made even more challenging by the effects of climate change on the ocean, which may increase the area of some fisheries while substantially decreasing the sustainability of others. This necessitates better methods and initiatives for fishery management. This can mean that it's time to update present methods and increase stakeholder participation in fishery management.
At the onset of fishery management, organizations, like the Marine Biological Association of the UK, founded in 1884,were formed. This organization took a broad scientific approach to the issue of understanding fluctuations in exploited fish and shellfish species, considering the physical and biological environments of the organisms. Today, when the significance of an ecosystem perspective has been reemphasized and attempts to understand the potential impact of climate change on Fishery resources have gained high priority, this broad multidisciplinary perspective still plays a significant role in Fisheries investigations. Ecologically oriented fishery management (Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management-EBFM) approaches are achieved through a well-developed management plan that indicates objectives, timing, funding, partners, players and Control Monitoring and surveillance. EBFM approaches have had some success although there is a lot that needs to be done in terms of R&D and inclusion"-- Back cover.