In 1989 we were asked by Dr Vidar Wespestad (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. National Marine Fisheries Service. Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Seattle. USA) to prepare and convene a session at the 1992 World Fisheries Congress in Athens. Greece on computer appli cations in fisheries. We agreed that the idea was a good one and the computer session turned out to be very successful. The computer session was organized in three parts: training classes. informal demonstrations accompanied by posters. and oral presentations of scientific papers. We were both amazed by the high level of interest and the high quality of contributions presented at the paper session. Returning from the World Fisheries Congress. we suggested to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in Copenhagen to hold a theme session on the topic 'Computers in Fisheries Research' at their statutory meeting the fol lowing year in Dublin. Ireland. The proposal was very positively received by ICES and we began organizing this new meeting with Dr John Ramster of the Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food. Fisheries Laboratory. Lowestoft. England. Based on our experience with the World Fisheries Congress. we expected a maximum of 15 titles would be submitted to the ICES theme session. Accordingly. the ICES symposium was originally allo cated one half-day time slot. The response we received from the call for papers. however. exceeded our most optimistic expectations. A total of 62 abstracts were submitted. Consequently.

The first edition of this book was published by Chapman and Hall Ltd. in 1996. The first edition contained nine chapters and, for all except one chapter, the original chapter authors agreed to update their chapter. Comparing these chapters gives the reader an idea of the development over a time span of more than 10 years between the two editions. In the preparation of the second edition we decided to add more chapters reflecting some important fields with significant contributions to present day fishery research. These are the use of internet for searching of information (Chapter 2), and the present state and use of remote sensing (Chapter 5), ecosystem modeling (Chapter 8) and visualization of data (Chapter 10). This second edition provides a valuable sampling of contemporary applications. Scientists have an opportunity to evaluate the suitability of different computer technology applications to their particular research situation thereby taking advantage of the experience of others. The chapters that follow are the fruition of this idea. The history behind this book started in 1989 when we were asked by Dr. Vidar Wespestad (previously: Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, USA) to prepare and convene a session at the 1992 World Fishery Congress in Athens, Greece on computer applications in fisheries. We agreed that the idea was a good one and the computer session in 1992 turned out to be very successful.

This timely book brings readers up to date on the wide range of advances made in fisheries science since the publication in 1957 of On the Dynamics of Exploited Fish Populations (Beverton and Holt), regarded by many fisheries scientists as one of the most important books on fisheries yet published. Traditional fishery subjects covered include historic declines and changes in fishing fleets, fisheries management and stock assessments, data-poor situations, simulation and modelling of fished stocks, fisheries economics, assessing reproductive potential and dispersal of larvae, fisheries for sharks and rays, and use of marine technology. Additionally, related subjects of increasing importance now that ecological approaches to management are coming to the fore are presented. They include benthic ecology, ecosystem changes linked to fishing, life history theory, the effects of chemicals on fish reproduction, and use of sounds in the sea by marine life. Several chapters offer stimulating philosophical discussion of the many controversial areas still existing. This significant book, edited by Andy Payne, John Cotter and Ted Potter and containing contributions by world-renowned fisheries scientists, including many based at Cefas (where Beverton and Holt's original work was carried out) is an essential purchase for fisheries managers and scientists, fish biologists, marine scientists and ecologists. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where fisheries and biological sciences are studied and taught are likely to need copies of this landmark publication.

Using R for Modelling and Quantitative Methods in Fisheries has evolved and been adapted from an earlier book by the same author and provides a detailed introduction to analytical methods commonly used by fishery scientists, ecologists, and advanced students using the open-source software R as a programming tool. Some knowledge of R is assumed, as this is a book about using R, but an introduction to the development and working of functions, and how one can explore the contents of R functions and packages, is provided. The example analyses proceed step-by-step using code listed in the book and from the book’s companion R package, MQMF, available from GitHub and the standard archive, CRAN. The examples are designed to be simple to modify so the reader can quickly adapt the methods described to use with their own data. A primary aim of the book is to be a useful resource to natural resource practitioners and students. Featured Chapters: Model Parameter Estimation provides a detailed explanation of the requirements and steps involved in fitting models to data, using R and, mainly, maximum likelihood methods. On Uncertainty uses R to implement bootstrapping, likelihood profiles, asymptotic errors, and Bayesian posteriors to characterize any uncertainty in an analysis. The use of the Monte Carlo Markov Chain methodology is examined in some detail. Surplus Production Models applies all the methods examined in the earlier parts of the book to conducting a stock assessment. This included fitting alternative models to the available data, characterizing the uncertainty in different ways, and projecting the optimum models forward in time as the basis for providing useful management advice.

This book really began in 1980 with our first microcomputer, an Apple II +. The great value of the Apple II + was that we could take the computer programs we had been building on mainframe and mini-computers, and make them available to the many fisheries biologists who also had Apple II + 's. About 6 months after we got our first Apple, John Glaister came through Vancouver and saw what we were doing and realized that his agency (New South Wales State Fisheries) had the same equipment and could run the same programs. John organized a training course in Australia where we showed about 25 Australian fisheries biologists how to use microcomputers to do many standard fisheries analyses. In the process of organizing this and sub sequent courses we developed a series of lecture notes. Over the last 10 years these notes have evolved into the chapters of this book.