This website is designed to provide information on the topic of marine fisheries using the case study of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to illustrate the major issues. For centuries the Atlantic cod was the mainstay of fisheries based in southeast Canada and New England.
However, in the early 1990s, a dramatic decline in cod stocks forced fishery managers to close some of the world’s most productive fishing grounds. The ecological impacts of the decline and the economic impacts of the closures were dramatic.
Descriptions of the historical context of the collapse of the cod fishery as well as assessments of the current status of the resource, the recovery efforts and the future of the fishery are discussed. All the issues for the decline of the Atlantic cod are outlined and for those who require further information or explanation of certain topics, please follow the links provided.