Swimming with the Groundfish

Carmel Finley reflects on her developing interest in fish and fisheries, particularly in postwar fisheries science. Beginning her career as a journalist, she wrote stories about fishing that were often based on information she had been told—much of which later proved to be inaccurate. In order to better understand these issues, she transitioned into academic research. Drawing on both her journalistic background and scholarly work, Finley critiques the institutionalization of fisheries science and the global subsidies that expanded fishing fleets beyond sustainable levels.