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With the collapse of many fisheries, evident hab-
itat destruction, and loss of biodiversity, there is
little question that conservation and restoration of
life in the seas is necessary today. Yet important
questions remain. Which species or ecosystems
are the most critical? What are the restoration
goals? Are there potentially negative conse-
quences of restoration plans? Marine Conserva-
tion Biology seeks to address these questions and
others by presenting the science, acknowledging
the uncertainties, and considering the socioeco-
nomic concerns that surround conservation ef-
forts. The editors have assembled leading
researchers in related fields to contribute their
knowledge on marine conservation efforts. This
text was reviewed by graduate students in an
aquatic ecosystem conservation seminar.
The editors begin with a persuasive argument
for why the emerging field of marine conservation
biology requires its own text. Chapter 1 presents a
thorough comparison between terrestrial and
marine conservation, a reoccurring theme
throughout the book. Both disciplines emphasize
biodiversity, focus on keystone species and
vulnerable populations, and are subject to stake-
holder conflicts. Marine conservation is set apart
from its terrestrial counterpart by physical con-
straints. The inherent difficulty of observing eco-
system health beneath the water’s surface limits
public awareness of existing and impending
problems at sea. Chapter 2 encourages thoughtful
consideration of restoration efforts, noting that
we are at a loss to determine the qualities of
pristine ecosystems due to the lack of historical
data and a shifting baseline that comes with each
new generation of marine scientists.
Part One, ‘‘Marine Populations: The Basics’’
combines chapters on life history and population
dynamics as they relate to conservation efforts in
the sea. Chapter 3 provides a comprehensive
description of various life histories for several
phyla and their subsequent requirements for
effective conservation. Chapter 4 is devoted to the
Allee effect. While there is speculation that mar-
ine organisms may be more or less prone to Allee
effects compared with terrestrial organisms, there
does not appear to be enough conclusive evidence
for an entire chapter devoted to this subject. We
suggest a broader chapter on invertebrate popu-
lation dynamics. The Allee effect is appropriately
discussed in chapter 5, with an examination of the
risk of extinction for marine species due to direct
and indirect human impacts. The section ends with
an interesting chapter on marine animal behavior
analysis, used to develop highly effective fishing
B. Jessen ÆJ. Black ÆR. Cormier ÆA. Gabela Æ
J. Murt ÆS. Pautzke ÆJ. Smith ÆF. Juanes (&)
Department of Natural Resources Conservation,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003,
USA
e-mail: juanes@forwild.umass.edu
Rev Fish Biol Fisheries (2006) 16:229–231
DOI 10.1007/s11160-006-9006-x
123
BOOK REVIEW
Elliott A. Norse and Larry B. Crowder (eds): Review
of ‘‘Marine Conservation Biology: the science
of maintaining the sea’s biodiversity’’
Island Press, Washington DC, USA, 470 pp, 2005 ISBN 1-55963-661-0
B. Jessen ÆJ. Black ÆR. Cormier ÆA. Gabela Æ
J. Murt ÆS. Pautzke ÆJ. Smith ÆF. Juanes
Received: 5 June 2006 / Accepted: 9 June 2006 / Published online: 19 July 2006
ÓSpringer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006
gear as well as aiding conservation efforts, such as
the prevention of by-catch.
Part Two, ‘‘Threats to Marine Biological
Diversity,’’ is surprisingly silent on the effects of
global warming and climate change. However, the
chapters incorporate many other stresses affect-
ing marine life. Chapter 7 presents a clear over-
view of nutrient enrichment using case studies
from North America. Other sources of pollution
such as PCBs, oil spills, and heavy metals would
have enhanced a more general discussion on
pollution. Chapter 8 presents examples of bioin-
vasions on a global scale with great detail and
informative case studies, including a discussion on
natural and human-induced invasions. Chapter 9
effectively calls for more attention to be brought
to the important yet little-understood area of
marine diseases, addressing possible bacterial
introduction and antibiotic resistance associated
with human inputs. As a conclusion to the section,
Chapter 10 reviews effects of multiple stressors on
a population, and calls for a multidisciplinary
approach to understand all stresses involved,
which is indeed appropriate for every challenge
presented in this book.
Part Three, ‘‘The Greatest Threat: Fisheries,’’
is the strongest section of the book, examining the
harmful effects of fishing practices and offering
some solutions to the growing crisis. Chapter 11
stresses the necessity for fisheries and conserva-
tion coexistence. The authors analyze failures in
current stock assessment and management goals
and propose a solution in the form of marine
protected areas, which are discussed at length in
the next section. Chapter 12 is a compelling
overview of trawling and dredging practices,
providing details of common techniques, negative
impacts, and high frequency of use in specific
areas. Chapter 13 demonstrates the negative
effects of targeted fishing practices on long-lived
marine species, with a clearly-written background
of their life history characteristics and a focus on
possible management strategies to alleviate this
problem. The effects of targeted fishing practices
are also examined in chapter 14, but from an
evolutionary perspective, as fishing selects for a
specific trait from the gene pool. The chapter is
strengthened by including studies that show a
heritable shift by a population from the pheno-
type selected by harvest. Chapter 15 adds a po-
sitive conclusion to this section by examining two
case studies of sustainable fisheries in the United
States, Pacific halibut and Bristol Bay sockeye
salmon. The chapter details characteristics com-
mon to sustainable fisheries, including a compre-
hensive understanding of the stock status, flexible
management, minimal ecological impact, a viable
fishing community, and a target species that can
recover within a reasonable time.
Part Four, ‘‘Place-Based Management of
Marine Ecosystems,’’ examines the approach of
whole-ecosystem management by incorporating
analyses of marine protected areas (MPAs). An
opening chapter to this section would greatly
benefit the reader by including an overview of the
varieties of MPAs, including the different regu-
lations that may be in effect as well as different
goals set for conservation. Chapter 16 focuses on
marine reserves, noting that one-hundredth of
one percent of the oceans is protected, and
provides examples of current reserves and their
status. Chapter 17 analyzes reserve function and
design, noting the costs and benefits of a reserve,
with consideration for conservationists, managers,
and fishers. This chapter was enhanced by
extensive figures that detail the current results
seen from reserves. Chapter 18 is a call for pro-
tected areas in the open ocean for migratory fish,
and suggests that temporary MPAs should be set
up along migratory routes and pelagic hot spots of
diversity. Whether this is feasible with current
international law and enforcement ability is
unclear. Chapter 19 focuses on the importance of
movement among sub-populations when desig-
nating marine reserves, taking into consideration
life history strategies and hydrological forces. The
authors note that poorly-designed reserves may
benefit one sub-population while endangering the
rest of the population by re-focusing fishing
efforts, thus reminding the reader that careful
consideration must be taken with any conserva-
tion or restoration plan.
Part Five, ‘‘Human Dimensions,’’ adds an
important element to consider for conservation
strategy in addition to the biological science.
Chapter 20 describes the general success of self-
management within peasant and tribal fishing
communities. Two examples of sustainable fishing
230 Rev Fish Biol Fisheries (2006) 16:229–231
123
successes in the developed world are portrayed:
the Maine lobster fishery, and Japanese cooper-
ative fisheries. This close examination of healthy
fisheries found in local communities is encourag-
ing and informative, but cannot be easily applied
to large-scale fisheries. Chapter 21 provides an
overview of the main U.S. and international laws
that apply to marine conservation and manage-
ment. This is a crucial topic for marine conser-
vation. The authors could have provided a more
detailed and balanced review of policy failures
and benefits if this chapter had been split into
two, one each for U.S. and international law.
Chapter 22 reflects on the role of uncertainty in
decision-making, and makes it clear that imposing
negative short-term policy without certainty of
long-term benefits requires careful consideration.
Chapter 23 covers the biology subdiscipline
‘‘restoration ecology,’’ using coral reef restoration
projects as informative case studies. An interest-
ing note from the author is that lessons can be
learned from perceived failures at sea. Chapter 24
is a poignant introduction to the philosophy of
moral thinking when applied to marine systems.
This thought-provoking subject complements the
process of designing and defending conservation
strategy. Chapter 25 argues that zoning in the
oceans will lead to less conflict and increased
financial gain for the fishers but was unsuccessful
as a concluding chapter. A more effective
approach would have been to provide a concise
and detailed chapter on zoning as a management
tool with a following chapter appropriate for
concluding thoughts and opinions.
A main concern, as is the case with many other
edited texts, is the lack of consistency from one
chapter to another. The amount of assumed
technical background varies with each chapter,
with no glossary for undefined terms, and limited
use of graphs and illustrations. Writing styles also
vary, from concise reviews to opinion-laden pas-
sages. Some similarities between chapters may
also be distracting, such as an overlap of material.
An example is the ever-present case study of sea
urchin, kelp, and sea otter numbers, which may
lead to the perception that this is the only
impacted community structure dynamic that
marine scientists have observed.
Marine Conservation Biology could be used as
a core text for an upper-level conservation or
management course, especially when comple-
mented with the primary literature that is excep-
tionally well-referenced at the end of each
chapter. A consistent message throughout this
work is that unless management of marine sys-
tems takes a precautionary approach, the burden
of proof to show that human actions at sea are
harmful lies with the scientists, who themselves
must take on an advocacy and stakeholder role.
Throughout most chapters, there is a clear sense
that all is not lost, and that actions today will reap
rewards for future generations. The efforts of the
authors and editors provide a tremendous benefit
to this new field, convincing and encouraging
students and scientists to consider all aspects of
conservation and management at sea.
Rev Fish Biol Fisheries (2006) 16:229–231 231
123
