Tin Can Coast: A History of Industry, Greed, and Fishing in the Golden State

by Joseph Ogilvy

"Powerful nature writing . . . a lively story about the consequences of rapacious capitalism." —LOS ANGELES TIMES

"You'll never look at a can of tuna the same way again." —MALCOM HARRIS, nationally bestselling author of Palo Alto

The hidden story of the California Coast, told through generations of immigrants, surges of industry, and three marine species caught in the dragnet of human history.

Look west from San Francisco or Monterey, past the surfers and cargo ships. This is the California Current, 1,900 miles of the most productive waters on earth. It was here that 18th-century Natives knew frisbee-sized abalone mollusks, sardine schools the size of buses, and Yellowfin tuna, each the size of a man. But it was not to last.

Over the next three centuries, the abalone, sardine, and tuna were swept into the violent undertow of history. Their species became resources. They drove the Spanish-Russian land war of the 18th century, California's virulently racist first “conservation” laws in the 19th, and an ad campaign that kept America fed on just-like-chicken canned goods in the 20th. Along the way, they became drivers of geopolitical competition, catalysts for the dramatic rise and fall of Cannery Row aristocracy, and even surly muses for John Steinbeck and Fritz Lang.

Collapsing the distinctions between human and natural history, Tin Can Coast brings the cautionary tale of the California shore to life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Food, American History, Nature, Environment

336 pages, Hardcover

Published July 21, 2026

About the author

Joseph Ogilvy is a writer and chef. After graduating from Oxford University, he spent several years working in London restaurants, including Bocca di Lupo, while writing on his days off. His experience in kitchens led him to research involving the tangled human and ecological history of food. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Nathanael Yarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history in the first half, but probably could have been about 3 hours shorter (listened as audiobook). Lots of pontificating about abalone and sardines that felt repetitive.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tale as old as time: hubris of humanity.

As a side note, the audiobook reader mispronounced a surprising number of words. What’s with that?

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi Joseph,

I wanted to reach out because I recently read Tin Can Coast and had to share a quick review:

"A fascinating and deeply researched dive into California's maritime history! The way you trace the natural history of the coast through abalone, sardines, and tuna—and connect them to broader historical and cultural shifts—is utterly absorbing."

I’m a member of a great reading community on Goodreads, and I know our group would be fascinated by your work. We’d love to feature Tin Can Coast for an upcoming group reading and discussion!

To help us lead a deep and engaging group conversation, we usually like to use a discussion outline. Do you happen to have a discussion outline or Q&A material available for the book?

If you don't have one ready, no problem at all! Feel free to connect with me here, and our team would be glad to help create one for you so everything is set up for the feature.

Thank you again for writing such an insightful book!
i will be waiting for your response

[Allison Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Joseph, Bloomsbury publisher, and Goodreads for my free print copy. I love learning new things and I learned much about the history of commercial fishing of tuna and abalone on the California coast. I found it all rather fascinating. Previously what I knew of tuna fishing was learned on Wicked Tuna:-p my husband loves that show. Interestingly, as I finished reading we had traveled through San Francisco and were staying in San Diego so I was reading the history of my present location:-) 4.5 stars. Some of the book was a bit dry and technical and read like a textbook, but..I'm a huge fiction reader and that far outpaces my nonfiction reads so I am not used to this style book anymore.

[Books Data · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tin Can Coast by Joseph Ogilvy is a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the history of California's fishing industry and its impact on both people and nature. The author combines environmental history with stories of immigrants, industry, and coastal communities in a way that feels engaging and easy to follow. His writing is vivid and helps readers understand how human ambition and greed have shaped the ocean's ecosystems over centuries. The book is both informative and moving, encouraging readers to think more deeply about conservation and sustainability. It is an excellent choice for anyone interested in history, nature, or environmental issues.

[NonFiction 24/7 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not what I thought. I couldn't get into it because I couldn't figure out the overall picture for the book. Beware of a book with a prologue and an intro.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like science writing that engages more with cultural context, not just hard science. This is not one of those. Still very well-researched.

[Derek Ouyang · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent example of scoping: one throughline of environmental transactions, along one coast, ebbing from exploitation to regulation to conservation.

[Mary-Ann Kourko]

Well researched. Makes me think about the history of every can of tuna I now open.