Book of the Month: April 2009

Marine Mammal Research: Conservation Beyond Crisis

by J.E. Reynolds, J.E. Reynolds III, W.F. Perrin, R.R. Reeves, S. Montgomery, T.J. Ragen

2005

The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore

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Marine mammal conservation presents a number of challenges for scientists and other stakeholders, especially using natural resources in ways that avoid crisis management. Scientists play the special role of providing vital information to decision makers to help them understand long-term consequences of their actions and avoid crises before they develop. The contributors to this visionary work look beyond the current crises to present a compelling argument about how science, if conducted properly, can provide insights that minimize crisis management and implement more anticipatory actions. Despite the significant reduction of marine mammal harvesting, stocks of some species remain greatly reduced or are in decline. This volume provides an overview of the current state of marine mammal populations and identifies the major obstacles facing marine mammal conservation, including fisheries, sonar and other noise pollution, disease, contaminants, algal booms, and habitat loss. The contributors chart a scientifically-supported plan to direct marine management toward a well-defined recovery protocol. This comprehensive resource will be indispensable for marine mammal biologists, oceanographers, conservation program managers, government regulators, policy makers, and anyone who is concerned about the future of these captivating species. (Review from Google)

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James Mead, from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, said “This book deserves prominent placement on the shelf of anyone who cares about the future of marine mammals. It covers all the major conservation issues of our day and defines a research agenda that should be embraced wherever marine mammals occur. A worthy successor to Twiss and Reeves, we bow have Marine Mammal Research as our touchstone for the challenges that face us.”