The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the European Community consists of four inter-related policies - markets, structures, external fishery relations and conservation. The original hardback edition concentrated on the conservation policy because it generated the most controversy, which continues to intensify as fish stocks deteriorate. For many the conservation policy is the Common Fisheries Policy and apparently a disastrous failure. Mike Holden joined the Commission in 1979 and was closely involved with the CFP's development, negotiation and adoption in 1983, and its subsequent implementation. He was therefore in a unique position to provide a critical appraisal of its successes and failures, and requirements to improve its performance in the future, but died in December 1995.

David Garrod, who has provided an update to take account of the latest developments, is less optimistic. He reviews recent developments in the context of the ownership of resources and enforcement, and the attitudes of the main players. He concludes that a radical rethink of the conventional approach to fisheries management is necessary if the EC is to avoid the charge of resource collapse, and the loss of much of the EC domestic fish production.