The Great Gulf: Fishermen, Scientists, and the Struggle to Revive the World's Greatest Fishery (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "On July 9, 1912, zoologist and oceanographer Henry Bryant Bigelow sailed a 90-foot schooner, the Grampus, out of Gloucester Harbor and onto the Gulf of..." (more)
Key Phrases: rolling closures, school cod, inshore cod, Gulf of Maine, New England, Georges Bank (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For hundreds of years, the New England cod fishery was one of the most productive in the world, with higher average annual landings than any comparable ocean area. But in the late 1980s, fish catches dropped precipitously, as the cod, flounder and other species that had long dominated the region seemed to lose their ability to recover from the massive annual harvests. Even today, with fishing sharply restricted, populations have not recovered. Largely overlooked in this disaster is the intriguing human and scientific puzzle that lies at its heart: an anguished, seemingly inexplicable conflict between government scientists and fishermen over how fish populations are assessed, which has led to bitter disputes and has crippled efforts to agree on catch restrictions. In The Great Gulf, author David Dobbs offers a fascinating and compelling look at both sides of the conflict. With great immediacy, he describes the history of the fisheries science in this most studied of oceans, and takes the reader on a series of forays over the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank on both fishing boats and research vessels. He introduces us to the challenges facing John Galbraith, Linda Despres, and Jay Burnett, passionate and dedicated scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service who spend countless hours working to determine how many fish there really are, and to the dilemma of Dave Goethel, a whipsmart, conscientious fisherman with 20 years's experience who struggles to understand the complex world he works in while maintaining his livelihood in an age of increasing regulation. Dobbs paints the New England fishery problem in its full human and natural complexity, vividly portraying the vitality of an uncontrollable, ultimately unknowable sea and its strange, frightening, and beautiful creatures on the one hand, and on the other, the smart, irrepressible, unpredictable people who work there with great joy and humor, refusing to surrender to the many reasons for despair or cynicism. For anyone who read Cod or The Perfect Storm, this book offers the next chapter of the story-how today's fishers and fisheries scientists are grappling with the collapse of this fishery and trying to chart, amid uncertain waters, a course towards its restoration.

From the Inside Flap

New England's cod fishery has always ranked among the world's richest -- until the late 1980s, when catches plummeted because of overfishing. Even today, with fishing sharply restricted, the fish struggle to recover.

Largely overlooked in this disaster is the puzzle at its heart: a strange, virulent disagreement between government scientists and fishermen over how many fish are in the sea, and therefore over how many should be caught.

In "The Great Gulf," David Dobbs takes us on a series of voyages over the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, vividly depicting the challenges facing John Galbraith, Linda Despres, and Jay Burnett, scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service working to determine how many fish there really are, and Dave Goethel, a whipsmart, science-savvy fisherman who struggles to maintain his livelihood amid increasing regulation. As these people strive to come to a common understanding of this dynamic environment, their efforts raise fascinating questions about what it means to see the world clearly.

For anyone who has read "Cod" or "The Perfect Storm," "The Great Gulf" offers the next chapter of the story -- how today's fishermen and fisheries scientists are grappling with the collapse of this fishery and trying to chart, amid uncertain waters, a course toward its restoration.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Island Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559636637
• ISBN-13: 978-1559636636
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #752,968 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD READING ON FISH ECOLOGY, July 21, 2001

By	Frederick S. Goethel "wildcatcreekbooks" (Central Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is an interesting, and very readable study of the problems that have caused major declines within the New England groundfishing industry, and how 2 seperate, but equally interested parties can view a subject so differently. It presents the case in a middle of the road view and throws the blame for the problem at both groups. If you ever wondered why the price of fish has become prohibitive, or how a major eco-system can be destroted while everyone talks, this is a book well worth reading. It is written in language that non-scientitsts can understand and enjoy.