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Song for the Blue Ocean: Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas
Part odyssey, part pilgrimage, this epic personal narrative follows the author's exploration of coasts, islands, reefs, and the sea's abyssal depths. Scientist and fisherman Carl Safina takes readers on a global journey of discovery, probing for truth about the world's changing seas, deftly weaving adventure, science, and political analysis.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
93 people are currently reading
3333 people want to read
About the author
Carl Safina
46 books585 followersCarl Safina’s work has been recognized with MacArthur, Pew, and Guggenheim Fellowships, and his writing has won Orion, Lannan, and National Academies literary awards and the John Burroughs, James Beard, and George Rabb medals. He has a PhD in ecology from Rutgers University. Safina is the inaugural holder of the endowed chair for nature and humanity at Stony Brook University, where he co-chairs the steering committee of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and is founding president of the not-for-profit organization, The Safina Center. He hosted the 10-part PBS series Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina. His writing appears in The New York Times, Audubon, Orion, and other periodicals and on the Web at National Geographic News and Views, Huffington Post, and CNN.com.
He lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Patricia, the two best beach-running dogs in the world, some chickens, a couple of parrots, and Frankie the kingsnake.
He lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Patricia, the two best beach-running dogs in the world, some chickens, a couple of parrots, and Frankie the kingsnake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 16, 2008
This incredible book is a searing look at humanity's attitude towards the formerly inexhaustible sea, and I will never be the same after reading it. Parts made me cry hard enough I got a headache. More than once I thought suicide might be a reasonable alternative to using up more of our resources.
I had to put it down and read hopeful things in between chapters, but I also was compelled to return. It's a little dated (published in 1997). I hoped, reading it, that some of what the scientists at the various front lines were telling Safina would have percolated into the nonscientific community and been acted upon. I Googled around some, looking for hopeful trends. And was not encouraged. It was interesting and disheartening to be reading the section in Safina's book about the Northwest's salmon annihilation while seeing daily reports in the Oregonian which said basically the same thing, only worse. Where Safina held out some hope that if we acted quickly the salmon runs might be salvaged, my newspaper ten years on is much less sanguine.
Setting aside the content, which is presented clearly and unsentimentally, I was blown away by Safina's excellent writing. His voice is crystalline, sharp as a scalpel, and lyrical. He's also hilarious, even in the face of bleak ruin.
Highly recommended.
I had to put it down and read hopeful things in between chapters, but I also was compelled to return. It's a little dated (published in 1997). I hoped, reading it, that some of what the scientists at the various front lines were telling Safina would have percolated into the nonscientific community and been acted upon. I Googled around some, looking for hopeful trends. And was not encouraged. It was interesting and disheartening to be reading the section in Safina's book about the Northwest's salmon annihilation while seeing daily reports in the Oregonian which said basically the same thing, only worse. Where Safina held out some hope that if we acted quickly the salmon runs might be salvaged, my newspaper ten years on is much less sanguine.
Setting aside the content, which is presented clearly and unsentimentally, I was blown away by Safina's excellent writing. His voice is crystalline, sharp as a scalpel, and lyrical. He's also hilarious, even in the face of bleak ruin.
Highly recommended.
August 14, 2011
It is said that humans are defined and distinguished from other animals by our ability to use tools and language, but often I wonder if the most uniquely human trait is our ability to deceive ourselves.
Song For the Blue Ocean is part scientific essay and part travelogue. It is the author's attempt to describe the plight of three fish groups (Bluefin Tuna, Pacific Salmon, and tropical reef fishes) and how human civilization has greatly benefited from them and is now being adversely affected because of recent dramatic decreases in their populations.
The section on salmon was the most interesting to me. Having grown and lived in Idaho where, at the time of my birth, millions of salmon returned annually from the ocean to spawn and where today only a mere few thousand return has made me appreciate salmon, and feel sadness and shame for what we have done to them.
I loved the way the author describes his own travels, meetings, and experiences while doing the research required for this book. The people that he met and gave voice to, experts in the related fields and common people who are affected by the health of fish populations, were interesting and brought so much insight into the various issues.
Read
December 11, 2011 Within the Song for the Blue Ocean, Carl Safina encompasses the reader on his journey throughout the world to address “the only wild animals still hunted on a large scale” (Safina, p. 395). As he endeavors on this journey, Safina uses descriptive quotes to introduce the endangered tuna, salmon, and coral reef and how these organisms have been affected by industry. In addition to showing the effects of industry, Safina addresses conservation efforts, environmental views, economic stipulations, and political aspects. While all of these ideals may seem very separate and unique, Safina finds a way to connect them and entertain the reader throughout each page.
Safina’s writing makes the reader anxious to turn the page, as he writes the non-fiction book to read like a novel. He uses quotes that appeal to the reader’s senses, allowing the reader to relate to Safina’s surroundings. While describing the beauty of the dolphins he encounters, Safina writes, “Their fluid maneuvers are excruciatingly beautiful, a living embroidery of motion through the ocean’s wrinkled cloth” (Safina, p. 10). Not only does the quote trigger visual senses, but it entails feeling as well. In addition to sensory quotes, Safina uses his writing to introduce humor. While Safina describes a tense situation dealing with individuals holding guns in unknown territories, he manages to place the quote, “This is not exactly the place I’d expect to see the Avon lady…” (Safina, p. 419). This comical quote helps break the tension of the situation, allowing Safina to lighten the scene and continue with his thoughts. Through the sensory quotes and humor Safina is able to turn his non-fiction book into a one-of-a-kind novel.
Safina’s book expands far beyond the novel characteristics, as he delicately places factual evidence to support his thoughts. Safina does an excellent job of blending the factual quotes with sensory quotes, allowing the reader to grasp the facts while engaging in the book’s material. Safina demonstrates this when describing the importance of trees and water, as he discretely talks about the advantages of protein and meat within one’s diet. He is ultimately tying his research to the nitrogen cycle, without burying his reader in factual evidence (Safina, p. 312). In addition to blending facts, Safina strives to provide facts that pertain to the reader’s everyday life. He often introduces facts within feedback loops; such is the case when Safina relates the human creation of dams with the demise of the salmon population (Safina, p. 122). These aspects of the book make the facts interesting and dynamic to read.
Safina does an excellent job of relating the book to geography, introducing various ideas that can be comprehended with a low level of knowledge about the subject. At one point in the book Safina writes about various landforms created by water flows such as an oxbow lake, undercut bank, and flood plain. He uses imagery to help the reader understand these landforms and their creation (Safina, p. 208). Safina also addresses climate throughout the book. He demonstrates this concept by describing tuna’s ability to use their internal heating systems to cope with changing water temperatures (Safina, p. 57). By utilizing his emphasis on the fishing industry, Safina is able to make geographical terms comprehendible.
While Safina’s ideas entertain the reader throughout his book, at times the reader questions where the ideas are leading. At one point in the book, Safina establishes the importance of the owl on the forestry industry. These ideas are placed amongst the ideas relating to salmon endangerment, which appears to have no correlation (Safina, p. 176-180). However, through this rant Safina is able to establish a direction correlation between the two animals and ultimately creates a causal relationship (Safina, p. 180). Although the reader questions Safina’s writing when he starts his rant, the relationship the rants establish creates more meaning throughout the book.
Song for the Blue Ocean is a great book for anyone to read. While the book focuses on an individual’s actions and how they relate to the environment, it is able to create relationships with other disciplines to relate to each type of reader. Carl Safina uses sensory quotes and humor to tie facts and ideas to individual lives, creating a strong connection between the book and realistic life. It is for these attributes that Song for the Blue Ocean is a must read, leaving other non-fiction books a difficult standard to surpass.
Citation
Safina, C. (1997). Song for the blue ocean. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
Safina’s writing makes the reader anxious to turn the page, as he writes the non-fiction book to read like a novel. He uses quotes that appeal to the reader’s senses, allowing the reader to relate to Safina’s surroundings. While describing the beauty of the dolphins he encounters, Safina writes, “Their fluid maneuvers are excruciatingly beautiful, a living embroidery of motion through the ocean’s wrinkled cloth” (Safina, p. 10). Not only does the quote trigger visual senses, but it entails feeling as well. In addition to sensory quotes, Safina uses his writing to introduce humor. While Safina describes a tense situation dealing with individuals holding guns in unknown territories, he manages to place the quote, “This is not exactly the place I’d expect to see the Avon lady…” (Safina, p. 419). This comical quote helps break the tension of the situation, allowing Safina to lighten the scene and continue with his thoughts. Through the sensory quotes and humor Safina is able to turn his non-fiction book into a one-of-a-kind novel.
Safina’s book expands far beyond the novel characteristics, as he delicately places factual evidence to support his thoughts. Safina does an excellent job of blending the factual quotes with sensory quotes, allowing the reader to grasp the facts while engaging in the book’s material. Safina demonstrates this when describing the importance of trees and water, as he discretely talks about the advantages of protein and meat within one’s diet. He is ultimately tying his research to the nitrogen cycle, without burying his reader in factual evidence (Safina, p. 312). In addition to blending facts, Safina strives to provide facts that pertain to the reader’s everyday life. He often introduces facts within feedback loops; such is the case when Safina relates the human creation of dams with the demise of the salmon population (Safina, p. 122). These aspects of the book make the facts interesting and dynamic to read.
Safina does an excellent job of relating the book to geography, introducing various ideas that can be comprehended with a low level of knowledge about the subject. At one point in the book Safina writes about various landforms created by water flows such as an oxbow lake, undercut bank, and flood plain. He uses imagery to help the reader understand these landforms and their creation (Safina, p. 208). Safina also addresses climate throughout the book. He demonstrates this concept by describing tuna’s ability to use their internal heating systems to cope with changing water temperatures (Safina, p. 57). By utilizing his emphasis on the fishing industry, Safina is able to make geographical terms comprehendible.
While Safina’s ideas entertain the reader throughout his book, at times the reader questions where the ideas are leading. At one point in the book, Safina establishes the importance of the owl on the forestry industry. These ideas are placed amongst the ideas relating to salmon endangerment, which appears to have no correlation (Safina, p. 176-180). However, through this rant Safina is able to establish a direction correlation between the two animals and ultimately creates a causal relationship (Safina, p. 180). Although the reader questions Safina’s writing when he starts his rant, the relationship the rants establish creates more meaning throughout the book.
Song for the Blue Ocean is a great book for anyone to read. While the book focuses on an individual’s actions and how they relate to the environment, it is able to create relationships with other disciplines to relate to each type of reader. Carl Safina uses sensory quotes and humor to tie facts and ideas to individual lives, creating a strong connection between the book and realistic life. It is for these attributes that Song for the Blue Ocean is a must read, leaving other non-fiction books a difficult standard to surpass.
Citation
Safina, C. (1997). Song for the blue ocean. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
March 19, 2010
This book changed my life, literally. I read this book just before beginning college and added a second major and a focus on conservation policy to my science plan because of this book.
The writing is beautiful and sadly still as relevant today as it was back in the late 90's.
The writing is beautiful and sadly still as relevant today as it was back in the late 90's.
September 26, 2012
This is my all-time tear jerker. I don't know why but I became very sad and yet engaged while reading this book. Carl Safina gives a tour de force of the current state of the world's fishes and also describes them raising my admiration for them even more. The tuna's role in inspiring porsche's turbo mechanism is interesting detail that shows how sophisticated fishes are. New Zealand's small successes in conserving its fisheries gives hope. But the overwhelming sense of doom makes this a very sad but important read. May it spur action before it is too late!
February 28, 2024
Very interesting & frustrating at the same time; this recounting seemed to be more a tale of the staggering over fishing of specific fisheries & the general ridiculousness of the policies that guide that process. I admit I didn’t give it its fair shake, only getting through about 20%, but this was just not what I was looking for at the time.
Well written & recounted for sure, eloquent language to describe the beauty & love of the ocean & its creatures but a bit too rambling for me.
Well written & recounted for sure, eloquent language to describe the beauty & love of the ocean & its creatures but a bit too rambling for me.
November 15, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip around the world with one of the great writers on ecology and human impact on and interaction with nature. Although this book is a bit dated by now (it was written in 1998), it is an amazing introduction to the beauty, complexity, destruction and hope (and so much more) that make up the world’s fishing industry and community. I have not read many environment-related books (my knowledge in this area has been primarily from magazines, newspapers and televised documentaries), but this book has shown me what I have been missing. There are so many things to praise about this book; I will highlight a few:
1. The format: The author travels to almost all parts of the world and introduces us to a colorful cast of (real life) characters, each of whom are local experts in their field (with that expertise coming from any or all of life, work, school) and includes people with very different perspectives on the issues driving the crises facing the local and broader communities - - some are scientists, some are government workers, some are policy advisers, some are fishermen and women, some are from big industry, some are just trying to feed their families. The story in the book is really the collective stories and experiences of all of these many people.
2. The passion: The author truly loves the subject he writes about and this comes through on every page. Whether writing about the people he meets, the fish and other marine life that inhabit a particular place, the effect on the local human population, or the factors considered or ignored by those with the power and authority to determine the fates of all those affected by their decisions or recommendations, Safina makes the reader feel like you are right there with him and experiencing the wonder, agony, despair, joy and hope together with him.
3. The education: If you have never read a book about our oceans, rivers, fish and the people, communities, industries, government regulators, natural beauty, and life impact )positive and negative), I urge you to read this one. It is considered to be one of the seminal environmental book on our oceans and aquatic life, in the way that Silent Spring was instrumental in launching the modern environmental movement. It is Safina’s first book, won awards and critical acclaim and is a page-turner to boot.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Finishing this book made me feel like I was leaving important friends behind and that I need to learn so much more about our natural world. My only disappointment is that Safina didn’t write a follow-up (but there is still time…)
1. The format: The author travels to almost all parts of the world and introduces us to a colorful cast of (real life) characters, each of whom are local experts in their field (with that expertise coming from any or all of life, work, school) and includes people with very different perspectives on the issues driving the crises facing the local and broader communities - - some are scientists, some are government workers, some are policy advisers, some are fishermen and women, some are from big industry, some are just trying to feed their families. The story in the book is really the collective stories and experiences of all of these many people.
2. The passion: The author truly loves the subject he writes about and this comes through on every page. Whether writing about the people he meets, the fish and other marine life that inhabit a particular place, the effect on the local human population, or the factors considered or ignored by those with the power and authority to determine the fates of all those affected by their decisions or recommendations, Safina makes the reader feel like you are right there with him and experiencing the wonder, agony, despair, joy and hope together with him.
3. The education: If you have never read a book about our oceans, rivers, fish and the people, communities, industries, government regulators, natural beauty, and life impact )positive and negative), I urge you to read this one. It is considered to be one of the seminal environmental book on our oceans and aquatic life, in the way that Silent Spring was instrumental in launching the modern environmental movement. It is Safina’s first book, won awards and critical acclaim and is a page-turner to boot.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Finishing this book made me feel like I was leaving important friends behind and that I need to learn so much more about our natural world. My only disappointment is that Safina didn’t write a follow-up (but there is still time…)
April 21, 2016
Awesome book. Eye-opening. I love Carl Safina's voice. Just when you're not expecting humor, boom! He throws an adorably snarky comment in there. Took me forever to read because it's so long, but I'm glad I persisted. I can't wait to read more of his work.
May 3, 2020
I've been dipping into Song for the Blue Ocean again because I've been thinking about books that have been influential in my life, and this is certainly one of them. Carl Safina has a powerful voice that derives from his knowledge as a scientist but even more from his deep and heartfelt awareness of being a kindred creature on this planet. The book takes readers on three journeys to learn about fishes vulnerable to overfishing—those on reefs of the South Pacific, salmon of the Northwest, and Bluefin tuna of the deep ocean. When I picked up the book, I had no idea that each of these journeys would feel like an epic adventure. The stories are heart-wrenching, but Safina is an extraordinary guide and excellent writer who knows how to pepper in wonder and humor along the way. The book enabled me to experience the magnificence of these creatures so I could grasp what mismanaging ocean fisheries truly means. It's an engaging read that started me thinking about marine life in a new way, and it remains relevant to this day. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in marine life, science, and nature writing.
February 4, 2025
Unfortunately this book is fairly outdated, and the author injected way too much of himself into it. After a while I felt like I was trapped at a one person cocktail party where I couldn't speak, and had to endure endless talk from this guy, who seems to live being the smartest, the Savior-est, etc.
Other people? Well, there's "a man with an unpronounceable Palauan name," there's also a "blowhard" who "bellows continually," and dozens people who turn to him and spontaneously day something like "I wish we had known, then, to protect the land."
The book is only about three places: East Coast of the US, Northwest Coast of the US, and parts of the coral triangle. The longest part is about the Northwest Coast, which was incredibly tedious for me because I live in Southeast Alaska. From my perspective, that section was incredibly long, very outdated, and incredibly limited all at the same time. Callum Roberts writes better, and covers topics more thoroughly without needing to narrate how scuba diving equipment works, or inject comments like: "a wall calendar decorated with twelve young women in poses that made me miss home."
Other people? Well, there's "a man with an unpronounceable Palauan name," there's also a "blowhard" who "bellows continually," and dozens people who turn to him and spontaneously day something like "I wish we had known, then, to protect the land."
The book is only about three places: East Coast of the US, Northwest Coast of the US, and parts of the coral triangle. The longest part is about the Northwest Coast, which was incredibly tedious for me because I live in Southeast Alaska. From my perspective, that section was incredibly long, very outdated, and incredibly limited all at the same time. Callum Roberts writes better, and covers topics more thoroughly without needing to narrate how scuba diving equipment works, or inject comments like: "a wall calendar decorated with twelve young women in poses that made me miss home."
October 6, 2019
Though this book is now over two decades old, the message is still prescient: As long as we treat natural resources solely as commodities without respect for their wildness, evolutionary adaptations, and biological significance, we as a human species will continue deplete and destroy these natural resources. Safina also emphasizes the intricate link between environmentalism/conservation and social justice, reminding us that "If the last are taken, the people with the least will be left with none." This book outlines through first-hand reporting where politics, economics, and natural resources intersect, often coming to the same conclusion that the needs of the first two continue to outweigh the needs of the last one. With so many examples of how poorly planned and poorly regulated harvesting of natural resources lead to environmental and economic collapse, it's a wonder why we continue to support these practices.
May 26, 2020
This is one of my favorite books I have ever read. Safina makes describing fish mating habits sound poetic. Everything he writes reads like fiction all the while educating you on some of the worlds biggest fishing dilemmas. He also gives a lot of attention to both sides of every issue. While semi outdated now still incredibly relevant and interesting to frame the issues that still persist. Cannot recommend it enough, especially to folks interested in learning more about climate/env issues.
September 8, 2020
Carl Safinas way of portraying the ocean's life is beautiful and heartfelt. The content of the book is filled with emotional passages and well explained links to humans role in the deterioration and restoration of the world's ocean. Written in the late 90s the book still holds true in it's holistic perspective on the environmental issues we are facing today. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in marine biology and/or environmental politics.
November 17, 2020
Wow. Takes you all over the world to view the destruction of the Ocean's wild life. What qn eye opener
February 7, 2023
this book is old enough now that it leaves one rather desperate for a comprehensive update on how the salmon and tuna are doing, and what’s changed in the world of conservation work since then
March 26, 2023
This was a tough book to get through... it was good, but took a bit to get through.
May 24, 2024
The author makes a clear argument that human beings are depleting the oceans at an alarming rate. I took off 1 star for too much repetition.
April 9, 2025
Terrific
re-read
September 22, 2022I picked this book up because it was referenced a number of times in Dan Barber's The Third Plate which I really loved (despite its elitism). It's important to note before diving into this book that it's 23 years old this year (2020) and much of Safina's research and visits for the book content were conducted before that (25-27 years ago). So my biggest take away from this was, what has changed in the intervening quarter century? Certainly climate change is a much larger, well-known, and well-accepted concept/issue, as well as being further advanced, and he doesn't really mention it. But are things better for salmon, blue fin tuna, and reef fish? Are things worse? Did scientists, conservationists, and business people and lobbyists stop fighting in order to address the real and pressing issues Safina discusses?
Song is by turns incredibly depressing and incredibly awe inspiring. You won't come away from this without being deeply concerned and invested in preserving the oceans and their habitats. The blurb on the front compares it to Silent Spring and while I haven't read Carson's seminal text, I am aware of its impact and legacy and I think this is an apt comparison. Safina visits three areas of the world to discuss three different types of fish and show how over exploitation of natural resources and the fish themselves, as well as poverty, has slaughtered these creatures, their habitats, and the people who rely on them.
I certainly came away with the impression that capitalism and greed is to blame (as it so often is), but Safina doesn't take a radical stance on changing the economy. And he doesn't condescendingly insist that impoverished communities continue to remain so for the sake of conservation. He presents the evidence of both science and what he goes out and sees with his own eyes and through the eyes of the experts (scientists and local people alike).
The book was a slower read for me in large part because Safina is a beautifully poetic author. He brings the people, places, and conversations to life. Some passages are so exquisite they needed to be read a second and third time to really take the time to create a mental image that went with the words. You're in for a treat with this book for that alone. And maybe that helps the content of the book feel more important and immediate too.
If I have one complaint about the book it is his lack of recognition of and contact with Indigenous people here in the U.S. who have for centuries relied on fish populations to feed their people and their culture. He mentions them very briefly in his look at the salmon runs on the West Coast of the United States and he repeats an unsavory quote from one person he visited in the Pacific Northwest about the natives in that area. But he never gets tribally specific, naming which people's land has been destroyed, which people relied on the salmon (and other fish on the East Coast). He completely erases the people in Northern California, except to correctly point out they were hunted for the bounty on Indian scalps, by talking only of the cattle rancher women he interviews and their "long" history on the land. Land that was stolen through bloody genocide. He's marginally better in the South Pacific (Palau and the Philippines) because a lot of their conservation efforts include the native populations so he spends some time with them. I could write it off as of-the-time, but I think it's inexcusable. That being said, if this is what it takes to get people to care about preserving our oceans, I still recommend reading the book.
Song is by turns incredibly depressing and incredibly awe inspiring. You won't come away from this without being deeply concerned and invested in preserving the oceans and their habitats. The blurb on the front compares it to Silent Spring and while I haven't read Carson's seminal text, I am aware of its impact and legacy and I think this is an apt comparison. Safina visits three areas of the world to discuss three different types of fish and show how over exploitation of natural resources and the fish themselves, as well as poverty, has slaughtered these creatures, their habitats, and the people who rely on them.
I certainly came away with the impression that capitalism and greed is to blame (as it so often is), but Safina doesn't take a radical stance on changing the economy. And he doesn't condescendingly insist that impoverished communities continue to remain so for the sake of conservation. He presents the evidence of both science and what he goes out and sees with his own eyes and through the eyes of the experts (scientists and local people alike).
The book was a slower read for me in large part because Safina is a beautifully poetic author. He brings the people, places, and conversations to life. Some passages are so exquisite they needed to be read a second and third time to really take the time to create a mental image that went with the words. You're in for a treat with this book for that alone. And maybe that helps the content of the book feel more important and immediate too.
If I have one complaint about the book it is his lack of recognition of and contact with Indigenous people here in the U.S. who have for centuries relied on fish populations to feed their people and their culture. He mentions them very briefly in his look at the salmon runs on the West Coast of the United States and he repeats an unsavory quote from one person he visited in the Pacific Northwest about the natives in that area. But he never gets tribally specific, naming which people's land has been destroyed, which people relied on the salmon (and other fish on the East Coast). He completely erases the people in Northern California, except to correctly point out they were hunted for the bounty on Indian scalps, by talking only of the cattle rancher women he interviews and their "long" history on the land. Land that was stolen through bloody genocide. He's marginally better in the South Pacific (Palau and the Philippines) because a lot of their conservation efforts include the native populations so he spends some time with them. I could write it off as of-the-time, but I think it's inexcusable. That being said, if this is what it takes to get people to care about preserving our oceans, I still recommend reading the book.
January 24, 2012
Carl Safina is on fire when he's on a role, but in between bursts of brilliance is a lot of poor analogies and over powering, gushy sentiment. He also writes way too much detail on his travel experience, including things like what he was wearing, the technicalities of getting around, the way he felt when talking to people, what he was eating, etc. etc. etc. This book could have used a better editor. Still a very worthwhile read for anyone interested in this subject. And the politics of conservation are very well discussed in here. In particular, I found the information on logging in the Northwest to be fascinating, engaging and horrifying. It was very well done.
Favorite Quote: "People will seldom protect things having no perceived economic value, but as we have seen, people sometimes display an active unwillingness to protect even things with economic value. What values, then, do we really have? What values do we really need?"
BTW, for some shameless self-promotion, if you like reading about animals and conservation, check out my blog on wildlife at http://backyardzoologist.wordpress.com/
Favorite Quote: "People will seldom protect things having no perceived economic value, but as we have seen, people sometimes display an active unwillingness to protect even things with economic value. What values, then, do we really have? What values do we really need?"
BTW, for some shameless self-promotion, if you like reading about animals and conservation, check out my blog on wildlife at http://backyardzoologist.wordpress.com/
December 8, 2011
Safina's writing is adept at presenting the various stakeholder views associated with the management of fisheries in North America and the Pacific. He is able to understand the various perspectives as he is both a fisherman and conservationist. This helps him to articulate the social, economic and environmental complexities of managing fisheries.
The book studies three distinct fisheries - the Northern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, the Pacific Salmon in North West America, and the reefs of the Phillipines/Indonesia. Much of the writing comes from his interactions with commercial fisherman, environmentalists, loggers, farmers, and scientists.
Safina is passionate but not dogmatic. It is primarily for this reason that the book works. If you are interested in the state of global fisheries, but want something more than a rant and references to policy documents, then this is the book for you.
I find Safina's writing much more accessible than Richard Ellis' work.
The book studies three distinct fisheries - the Northern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, the Pacific Salmon in North West America, and the reefs of the Phillipines/Indonesia. Much of the writing comes from his interactions with commercial fisherman, environmentalists, loggers, farmers, and scientists.
Safina is passionate but not dogmatic. It is primarily for this reason that the book works. If you are interested in the state of global fisheries, but want something more than a rant and references to policy documents, then this is the book for you.
I find Safina's writing much more accessible than Richard Ellis' work.
March 3, 2016
Fantastic book about the plight of sea life in the world's oceans. Carl Safina takes us on a globe trotting expedition to New England, the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Palau, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Each stop shows the urgency for conservation of the world's fisheries, coral reefs, and other oceanic life. The narrative is devastating to read at times but never pedantic and sometimes hopeful. I can't recommend it enough if you have a genuine interest in the environment and conservation.
September 24, 2007
An extraordinarily eloquent plea for several major conservation issues facing the conservation of the oceans. Safina displays shades of Rachel Carson, as he sheds light on the plight of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, salmon in the Pacific Northwest, and the live-fish trade of the south Pacific. His personal journeys convey the tragedies befalling the ocean enironment, and yet his poetic writing as a plea for help still maintains a tone of hope for the future.
July 4, 2008
Heavy look at the wide scope of the local, national and international fisheries crises. Uplifting with the books anecdotes from interviews by the author, and pummeling in the magnitude of the collapse in population size of the amazing animals of the ocean. Amazing, because they truly rely on every drop of water in the seas and are interconnected to every land/river boundary from the continents. MARINE SCIENCE, woo-WOOP!
December 28, 2025
First published in 1998, this is just as devastating a (re)read now as it was when I first read it 25 years ago. This was the book that made me stop eating bluefin tuna, swordfish and prawns. Carl Safina writes eloquently and lyrically of the devastating human impact on fish, oceans and, in the case of salmon, forests; all fuelled by our unfathomable greed, stupidity and shortsightedness. The great tragedy is that this book is just as relevant today as it was then. Important reading.
March 15, 2013
Really enjoyed this book. At one time I too wanted to be able to explore the Ocean both by ship and diving. But life had other ideas for me, so for now I am left reading about it and once in a blue moon getting to make my yearly visit to the Big Blue. I still find all varieties of creatures fascinating and feel we can still lear n a lot about ourselves, evolution, and the way nature works just by studying the Ocean and her world.
May 10, 2013
I read this book years ago.. Saw it on a book shelf in a used book store; picked it up probably because I liked the title. It is one of the most interesting, lyrical, moving books I have read. It contends with the Ocean, and our human relationship to it.
Eschewing any easy classification of good and bad, the author engages the ocean thru various experiences of those who live with and in and on the ocean.
Compelling. Lovely read.
Eschewing any easy classification of good and bad, the author engages the ocean thru various experiences of those who live with and in and on the ocean.
Compelling. Lovely read.
December 26, 2015
This was an incredibly long, eye opening and yet depressing book. It's definitely made me think about the fishes that I eat and the impact that I make on the ocean, an ecosystem that I love here in CA. Safina does a wonderful job of putting together his travels and research all together in his book to both engage and entertain readers. I would definitely recommend his book but like I said it is long which is why I personally gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
August 29, 2008
Don't expect the eloquence of Rachel Carson, but he gets the point across and makes you think. Definitely adjusted my eating habits after finishing this book. I'm still pondering the role of government, the individual, and free market economics in the area of conservation... Not sure, need to read more (always, always). Suggestions would be welcome!
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