Fisheries

Although an established global industry the development and importance of fisheries is overlooked by many historians, disregarded as a parochial coastal trade. This is disappointing, since fisheries epitomise many aspects of man’s relationship with the maritime world and the enviroment: the congruence between occupation and community; the projection of power and national identity; the construction and appropriation of scientific knowledge; and the development of international institutions to ameliorate conflict and engender development. Most importantly, fisheries offer a history of our exploration of a global commons that has conditioned national jurisdiction over marine resources. The current status of world fisheries demands transnational [perspectives: if they are to provide meaningful insights, so must historical accounts.