On Wednesday, October 25, 2000 1:29 PM, Krazy Kiwi wrote:

(snip)
> The Cod overfishing saga is similar to Kent Lind's timely posting of the
> Pollock overfishing story. This book covers so much history during the cod
> fishing spree.  Very interesting to hear how plentiful the cod haul was,
> the commercial potential of the Iceland & Newfoundland fisheries, when
> trade monopolies came in, the global conflicts between various countries,
> fishing rights, treaties, international laws of the sea, etc. A riveting
> read that will open your eyes & make you think.

Some years ago, I remember being enthralled by Alistair Hardy's book, 'The
Open Sea' in which he talked about the huge herring fisheries established
down the east coast of the UK.  All of them now virtually gone because of
depletion of the fish stocks.

As long ago as 1899 concern over the introduction of trawl netting prompted
King Oscar II of Sweden to convene a meeting in Stockholm of all of the
nations of Europe interested in sea-fishing.  Its purpose was to examine
ways of conserving the natural economy of the oceans.  Barely more than a
hundred years later and the exploitation continues unabated.

The world's oceans are no longer considered to be a finite resource capable
of replenishing themselves.  But, sadly, it's always assumed that it's a
problem best left to the next generation in terms of a practical cure.

Strike