"The Empty Ocean" by Richard Ellisby | 21-11-2016 07:50 |
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The Empty Ocean There are many books that deal with environmental issues, but only a few have been so alarming and disturbing to read as "The Empty Ocean" by Richard Ellis. Summary The book tells us a story of the ever-present greed of humankind that drives the plunder of sea life from our oceans, and demands an answer to a very important question: Can the ocean recover? Various species of marine life are analyzed in the book, especially those that are directly threatened by climate change and massive industrial overfishing. With a historical overview of species whose extinction is linked with human activity or those whose numbers have greatly been reduced in the past century, the book also gives us a new perspective to the immense threat that marine life is certain to face in the near future. But, the book also gives us a glimpse of hope when it introduces the phenomena of ocean life adaptability. Truly, there are a number of species that have adapted to the increasing pressure of human activity, with the potential to thrive in the oceans of the future. My review: The book offers a disturbing image that the near future holds for marine life if the effects of human activity and climate change continue without restrictions. It is a must read for not only those directly interested in marine biology and ocean ecology, but for every responsible person that does not wish to see a gruesome end to ocean life. A very important subject to think about is how well marine life can adapt to the constant pressure it faces from overfishing, and how we can help the remaining species to thrive in already seriously polluted coastal ecosystems. Climate change poses a great risk to a huge number of species, particulary corals which in turn house a great number of fish, thereby giving us the opportunity to see how the damage on one link in the great ocean food chain can disturb the balance of the entire chain. "The Empty Ocean" should not be regarded as a book whose "prophecies" need to come true. It is up to all of us to not let them come to pass.  |
