This topical and exciting textbook describes fisheries exploitation, biology, conservation and management, and reflects the many recent and important changes in fisheries science. These include environmental impacts of fisheries and the role of ecological interactions in determining population dynamics. It uses examples from tropical, temperate and polar environments, and provides a broad understanding of the biological, economic and social aspects of fisheries ecology. It also covers industrial fishing, poverty and conflict in fishing communities, marine reserves and the effects of fishing on coral reefs, seabirds, mammals and reptiles. The book is primarily written for students of fisheries science and marine ecology, but should also appeal to practicing fisheries scientists.