Entanglements: The Intertwined Fates of Whales and Fishermen

by Tora Johnson

Entanglements explores the clash of cultures and personalities among fishermen, scientists, and whale advocates struggling to save both the endangered North Atlantic right whale and the livelihoods of thousands of Atlantic coastal families. By most counts, about 300 of these whales remain in the North Atlantic, and scientists warn that collisions with fishing gear are contributing to their decline. The political climate that surrounds the world's most endangered large whale is contentious, complex, and heartrending. Without pointing fingers or laying blame, Tora Johnson explores every side of the issue. She takes us to sea with fishermen who struggle to stay in business, setting traps and gillnets in the whale's habitat, and with members of the rescue teams who attempt to cut away deadly rope and net from whales in the wild. Weaving their stories and her personal observations into a discussion of the science and history of the conflict, she offers an admirable balance of perceptions, backgrounds, and agendas. Her thoughtful discussion of the plight of fishermen and whales and of the frustrations between fishing communities and conservationists presents an authentic microcosm of the global conflict between human demands on the environment and nature's finite capacity for supporting those demands.

Genres: Nonfiction

289 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2005

About the author

Tora Johnson has a B. S. in Biology from University of Oregon and an M. Phil. in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic.

She also holds a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license to operate vessels up to 100 gross tons. Since 1996, she has taught marine, environmental, and geographic information science at the college level. She teaches computer mapping and marine studies at University of Maine at Machias where she is director of the Geographic Information Systems Service Center. She has served on the adjunct faculty of College of the Atlantic, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Cape Cod Community College. Before her son was born in 1996, Ms. Johnson made a career of teaching and crewing aboard several of the large sailing vessels that ply the coast of New England, as well as commercial fishing in Alaska.

Ms. Johnson’s current human ecological research focuses on conflicts between fisheries and marine mammal policy. She specializes in marine and hydrological applications of geographic information systems and explores innovative media and methods for conveying geographic information. For the past few years she has collaborated with installation artist and sculptor Frances Whitehead on large-scale, place-based installation art projects.

Also a writer and education consultant, Johnson was the marine reporter for the Martha’s Vineyard Times from 1998 to 2000. In addition to columns and feature articles for magazines and newspapers, she has published the Guide to Freshwater Animals without Backbones (with Arlene De Strulle; The Catskill Center, 1997). In her multidisciplinary graduate studies, Johnson focused mainly on writing nonfiction books, working closely with novelist and poet, Dr. William Carpenter, and literary scholar, Dr. Karen Waldron.

Johnson's husband, Chris Mullen, is a boatbuilder and commercial fisherman. They live in Maine with their eight year old son.

Reviews

[Caley Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and perceptive account of the struggles to protect both whales and fisheries in New England and Newfoundland.

[Erin Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! An unbiased account of the struggle to keep large whales from becoming entangled in fishing gear. Entertaining, honest, enlightening. The author does an excellent job of explaining the viewpoint of all sides -- fishermen, conservationists, researchers, managers.

[Annchan Maulana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Learning sow much new things from this book. Luv it ^^

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

My friend Tora wrote this book, and my friend Laura Ludwig was one of her featured interviews. Gave interesting insights into a complicated natural resource management issue. No easy answers.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books out there that I have found that is unbiased. It shows both sides of the conflict between the fishermen and the endangered right whales. A must read.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

explains the world I work in