Environmental Conservation & Protection of Habitats & Ecologies, Oceanography, Fish - General, Marine Biology - General & Miscellaneous, Natural Terrain - Oceans & Seas, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Civilization - General & Miscellaneous, Natural Terrain - La

The Empty Ocean

Name: The Empty Ocean
Author: Richard Ellis
ISBN: 9781559636377

by Richard Ellis

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Overview

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. "

Synopsis

Ellis, a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History, describes the losses the world's oceans have suffered in terms of reduction and extinction of species and explains what can be done to help the oceans recover. Through portraits of marine creatures, he introduces readers to many forms of sea life that human beings have fished, hunted, and collected. The book is illustrated with Ellis' b&w drawings. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The New York Times

Near the end of his book, Ellis writes in summary, ''We mourn the loss of rain forests and timberlands; we watch helplessly as urban sprawl encroaches on meadows and prairies … but the rampant destruction of the ocean floor and its endemic fauna is one of the greatest environmental disasters in history, and it is occurring virtually unnoticed.'' The destruction may have gone unnoticed until now, but with the publication of The Empty Ocean it will at least be easier to imagine, and to mourn. — Thurston Clarke

About the Author, Richard Ellis

Richard Ellis is the author of more than ten books, including The Book of Whales (Knopf, 1980), Monsters of the Sea (Knopf, 1994), Imagining Atlantis (Knopf, 1998), The Search for the Giant Squid (Lyons, 1998), and, most recently, Aquagenesis (Viking, 2001). A research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, he is also a celebrated artist whose works of marine life have been exhibited in museums around the world.

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Editorials

The New York Times Book Review

“[A] splendid example of history illuminating ecology, with well-chosen facts that enable us to picture a largely invisible catastrophe.”

The New York Times Book Review

“[A] splendid example of history illuminating ecology, with well-chosen facts that enable us to picture a largely invisible catastrophe.”

The New York Times

Publishers Weekly

This is not just another apocalyptic ecology book, lamenting the decline and extinction of too many sea species and the concomitant pollution of their watery habitats. Rather, Ellis (Imagining Atlantis) uses his considerable narrative skills, along with his deft illustrator's hand, to recount the worldwide saga of human predation in the oceans. This is a historical compendium rich in anecdote, lore and details of the natural life of water-dwelling creatures. The animals discussed are not limited to the commonly known, commercially important fish and the familiar intelligent sea mammals, but also looks into the fate of lesser known seabirds and the delicate limestone formations we know as coral reefs. Geographically the book ranges from the frigid North Atlantic of Newfoundland to the rich waters of New Zealand. The stories of human overuse and abuse of the sea are legion, from North America's loss of the penguin-like great auk, due to overhunting beginning in the 15th century and ending in the 19th century, to unintentional drowning of leatherback turtles by Asian fishing nets. Yet the author does not lock into the typical maudlin rant of modern-day environmental Cassandras. Rather, Ellis explains and details through both historical and scientific data the scope of the problem and offers some realistic alternatives to continued misuse and apathy. Illus. (May 13) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

In his latest book, marine artist and writer Ellis (Aquagenesis) expresses his deeply felt appreciation for the uniqueness of all forms of marine life and his sorrow at their dwindling numbers or extinction through elegant prose and finely detailed line drawings. He clearly explains the economic, political, historical, and biological reasons for declining fisheries, the plight of sea turtles, disappearance of marine birds, slaughter of marine mammals, and destruction of coral reefs. He notes how through carelessness and ignorance non-native species have been introduced into new habitats where they attack indigenous species or destroy their food supply. However, "the most harmful invader is humankind," writes Ellis. Humans have also discharged "our poisonous or radioactive effluents into the water, contaminating everything from lakes and streams to bodies the size of the Caspian Sea." This volume belongs in all public and academic libraries because of the importance and urgency of its message.-Judith B. Barnett, Univ. of Rhode Island Lib., Kingston Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.