Alanna Mitchell demonstrates in this topical and highly relevant book why I am a fan of science journalists—they take complex scientific works and turn them into understandable material for the public. In Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis, Mitchell transports the reader from Australia to the United States, Puerto Rico, England, Panama, Canada, Spain, the People’s Republic of China and Tanzania, using examples to explain the hopes and challenges facing the global ocean as described by the received science.
She begins on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The reef is an Australian National Park that is protected by strictly enforced laws against destructive practices. It is currently unlawful for anyone to undertake commercial activity within one third of it. In addition, non-commercial activities within this protected part of the reef are controlled. Sadly, this effort by Australia to protect marine biodiversity may be unsuccessful because it appears...
U. Rashid Sumaila is director of the Fisheries Centre at the University of British Columbia where he also directs the Fisheries Economics Research Unit.
Advertisement
Advertisement