The empty ocean

Description

In The Empty Ocean, acclaimed author and artist Richard Ellis tells the story of our continued plunder of life in the sea and weighs the chances for its recovery. Through fascinating portraits of a wide array of creatures, he introduces us to the many forms of sea life that humans have fished, hunted, and collected over the centuries, from charismatic whales and dolphins to the lowly menhaden, from sea turtles to cod, tuna, and coral. Rich in history, anecdote, and surprising fact, Richard Ellis's descriptions bring to life the natural history of the various species, the threats they face, and the losses they have suffered. Killing has occurred on a truly stunning scale, with extinction all too often the result, leaving a once-teeming ocean greatly depleted. But the author also finds instances of hope and resilience, of species that have begun to make remarkable comebacks when given the opportunity. Written with passion and grace, and illustrated with Richard Ellis's own drawings, The Empty Ocean brings to a wide audience a compelling view of the damage we have caused to life in the sea and what we can do about it."--Publisher description.

First Sentence

Once upon a time, gray whales fed in the cold waters off Iceland and Greenland and migrated south-perhaps to the Bay of Biscay or even to the English Channel-to breed.

Subjects

Links

• Table of contents only
• Publisher description

Other Editions

• The empty ocean: plundering the world's marine lifeIsland Press/Shearwater Books2003-01-01
• The Empty OceanHardcoverIsland Press2003-07-18
• The Empty OceanPaperbackIsland Press2004-08-15