ABSTRACT

Overview This chapter sets the tone and describes the reasons behind the effort that all authors have put into this book. I begin with an overview of the various stages of sheries management practiced in the United States and provide a summary of the current state of management thought. The present status of world sheries is also examined along with the general condition of, and trends in, coral health. Arguments are presented to explain why it is timely to examine the interrelationships between corals and sheries. Lastly, there is an overview of the presentations offered herein, and the contribution that each makes toward elucidating important features of the interrelationships.