Marine Fisheries Introduction and Status

This instructional guide is designed to provide instructors with lecture support on the topic of marine fisheries with an emphasis on those species that are commercially harvested in the United States. Marine fisheries are first defined and characterized and then the various marine habitats that are exploited are described. The historical condition of fisheries is discussed, as well as assessments of the current status of the resource. A general lecture outline and a more detailed PowerPoint presentation with instructor notes are provided. Print, video and web-based resources that cover the topic are summarized and cited. Instructors who wish to obtain greater detail on any of the topics discussed in this module are encouraged to seek out these additional resources or those cited in the Comprehensive Resources for NCSR Marine Fisheries Series