“The economic importance of fishes and their societal and cultural relevance provide powerful incentives for large-scale, sustained studies of their dynamics” the Editors The overall goal of this book is to give a picture of the present use of information on fish reproductive biology in assessment and management and its potential for improving management of these resources. Compiled by an international team of authors, each an expert in their field, this exceptional volume is divided into three major sections: · Biology, population dynamics, and recruitment · Information critical to successful assessment and management · Incorporation of reproductive biology and recruitment considerations into management advice and strategies Including over 100 diagrams, this book is essential reading for all fisheries scientists. Libraries in universities and research establishments where this subject is studied and taught should have copies on their shelves. “As one author put it: the goal is to facilitate a ‘dialogue between assessment scientists and biologists.’ Readers of any specialty should accept this challenge, and this book is an excellent resource to aid them.” Fisheries, March 2010

Tore Jakobsen, Senior scientist and marine biologist with experience from fish stock assessment and management advice. Employed by IMR since 1970. Head of Demersal Fish Section 1992-1998; Chair of the Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) 1999-2002; National Expert on Fisheries Research Projects at the European Commission (DG FISH) 2002-2006.

Michael J Fogarty, Senior Scientist, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, head of the Ecosystem Assessment Program. Research interests and experience include climate effects on marine systems, fisheries ecology, and the dynamics of exploited fish and invertebrate populations.

Bernard A. Megrey, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Center, Seattle, USA. Research fisheries biologist with NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center, where he has worked since 1982. Extensive experience studying the dynamics of exploited fish populations, relationships of the bio-physical environment to recruitment variability, stock assessment, and climate impacts on marine ecosystems.

Erlend Moksness, Research Director, Institute of Marine Research, Norway. Fisheries biologist with background in recruitment in marine fish, fish ageing, stock enhancement of marine fishes and aquaculture of marine fishes.