Book excerpt: Why are some marine fish super abundant, attracting the attention of commercial fisheries? The full answer to this question can only be found by looking not just at biological aspects, such as reproduction and population dynamics, but also at the surrounding oceanic conditions, by analysing physical, chemical, geomorphological and other data. The sciences of fisheries and oceanography have in the past followed separate developments, but with the advent of the new science of fisheries oceanography, oceanographic information is being used to solve ecological problems in fisheries. Fisheries Oceanography provides thorough coverage of the major aspects of this important subject. The editors of this text book have drawn together an impressive list of contributing authors who offer vital insights into early life history, migration, genetic variability, climate change effects, models and the use of satellites in fisheries oceanography. An important aspect of the book is the inclusion of chapter commentaries by leading world authorities. The book concludes with an overview of problems facing fisheries, and how fisheries oceanography can be utilized to resolve some of these problems in the future. Fisheries workers, oceanographers and marine scientists will find a great deal of current information vital to their work in Fisheries Oceanography. As a text book it will be of great use to all those studying and researching marine fisheries, including BSc, MSc and other postgraduate students particularly in fisheries, fish biology, marine biology, oceanography and ecology.