The present crisis in fisheries management has resulted not only from the uncertainly surrounding biological stock assessment, but also from a collapse in confidence in the centralized regulatory systems. The established role of the biological sciences in formulating fisheries policies and strategies for challenged, and alternative systems are now firmly on the scientific and political agenda. This study assembles contributions from Europe’s leading social scientists, sociologists, social anthropologists, political scientists and geographers who have been actively involved in fisheries management research. Together, they provide a contemporary and critical analysis of existing strategies, whilst examining opportunities for alternative systems based on principles of subsidiarity, regionalization and co-management.