This book, left uncompleted when David Johnson died, is the culmination of his lifetime of research into the fishing industry. It tells the story of how our fishing industry moved from an inshore industry where the fish were largely caught by small boats to a multi-million dollar industry where large companies now have the technology and skills to fish our 200 mile economic zone.

It shows how the early Dalmatian settlers made a huge contribution to the industry, how the industry gradually freed itself from the war time restrictions in the 1950s and how the industry was seized with a frenzy when seemingly unlimited supplies of crayfish were found off the Chatham Islands. Then as the industry became professionalised there were battles fought and won for a 200 Mile economic zone, for the right to protect and fish our own resources and to manage those resources through the quota management system. This was regarded as a world leader in conservation.

Hooked also shows how New Zealand’s fisheries resources were allocated to Maori under the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi and how the industry became controlled by some of the big companies like Sealord, Talleys and Sanford Ltd. Also covered is the development of aquaculture industry.

The book is an essential tool for all those who want details about the New Zealand fishing industry and how it has developed. It is specially priced for libraries and research institutes.