The Exploited Seas: New Directions for Marine Environmental History (Research in Maritime History)

The book combines the approaches of maritime history and ecological science to explore the evolution of life-forms and eco-systems in the ocean from a historical perspective, in order to establish and develop the sub-discipline of marine environmental history. Documentary records relating to the human activity, such as fishing, plus naturally occurring paleo-ecological data are analysed in order to determine the structure and function of exploited ecosystems. The book is divided into four chapter groups, the first concerned with Newfoundland and Grand Banks' fisheries, the second with the potential of historical sources to provide a history of marine animal populations, the third explores the development of fisheries in the southern hemisphere during the twentieth century, and the final section explores the limitations of data and existing analysis of whale populations. The epilogue reiterates the suggestion that collaboration between historians and biologists is the key to furthering the sub-discipline. The Newfoundland Fisheries, C. 1500-1900: A British Perspective / David J. Starkey, Michael Haines -- Testing Ecological Models: The Influence Of Catch Rates On Settlement Of Fishermen In Newfoundland, 1710-1833 / Ransom A. Myers -- Nineteenth-century Expansion Of The Newfoundland Fishery For Atlantic Cod: An Exploration Of Underlying Causes / Sean T. Cadigan, Jeffrey A. Hutchings -- Status And Potential Of Historical And Ecological Studies On Russian Fisheries In The White And Barents Seas: The Case Of The Atlantic Salmon (salmo Salar) / Julia Lajus, Yaroslava Alekseeva, Ruslan Davydov, [et. Al.] -- Danish Fisheries, C. 1450-1800: Medieval And Early Modern Sources And Their Potential For Marine Environmental History / Poul Hom, Maibritt Bager -- Historical Approaches To The Northern California Current Ecosystem / R. C. Francis -- Potential For Historical-ecological Studies Of Latin American Fisheries / Chris Reid -- The South African Fisheries: A Preliminary Survey Of Historical Sources / Lance Van Sittert -- The Potential For Historical Studies Of Fisheries In Australia And New Zealand / Malcolm Tull, Tom Polacheck -- Examining Cetacean Ecology Using Historical Data / Tim D. Smith -- Epilogue / Poul Holm, David J. Starkey, Tim D. Smith. Edited By Poul Holm, Tim D. Smith And David J. Starkey. Includes Bibliographical References. This work combines the approaches of maritime history and ecological science to explore the evolution of life-forms and eco-systems in the ocean from a historical perspective, in order to establish and develop the sub-discipline of marine environmental history. Documentary records relating to the human activity, such as fishing, plus naturally occurring paleo-ecological data are analysed in order to determine the structure and function of exploited ecosystems