Callum M. Roberts is professor of marine conservation at the University of York in England. He is a prolific author and researcher, and has advised the U.S., British, and Caribbean governments on the creation of marine reserves.
"The Unnatural History of the Sea is not just another lament over
bygone environmental conditions. Roberts highlights the value of
conservation efforts, such as marine reserves (areas off-limits to
fishing), reminding readers that an awareness of history is
essential to designing such programs."-- "Audubon"
"The accounts presented in The Unnatural History of the Sea provide
compelling comparison benchmarks and expose the harm done by
mankind's continued view of wildlife solely as commodity."--
"Honolulu Advertiser"
Roberts (marine conservation, Univ. of York) dramatically contrasts historical accounts of the unbelievable abundance of all types of marine life with descriptions of the current scarcity and extinction of many species of fish around the world. His well-documented and objective study of the history of fishing and overfishing since the 11th century traces the gradual depletion of the traditional cod, herring, haddock, and flounder fisheries, as well as whale, seal, and walrus populations. Once-busy fishing ports are now sleepy towns, witnesses to the growing scarcity of previously plentiful species caused by trawling gear, sonar depth sensors, and geographic positioning systems that enable commercial fishing fleets to catch huge amounts of fish in less time while also doing unimaginable physical harm to the ocean bottom and disturbing ecological balances. As Richard Ellis (The Empty Ocean) and Charles Clover (The End of the Line) have pointed out, decades of international efforts at marine management have been ineffectual. Roberts proposes basic changes in landings statistics and quotas, as well as designating at least 30 percent of the world's oceans as marine reserves. Sadly, one wonders how many more books on this subject will have to be published before any change is effected. For public and academic marine science and environmental collections.-Judith B. Barnett, Pell Marine Science Lib., Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
"The Unnatural History of the Sea is not just another lament
over bygone environmental conditions. Roberts highlights the value
of conservation efforts, such as marine reserves (areas off-limits
to fishing), reminding readers that an awareness of history is
essential to designing such programs."-- "Audubon"
"The accounts presented in The Unnatural History of the Sea
provide compelling comparison benchmarks and expose the harm done
by mankind's continued view of wildlife solely as commodity."--
"Honolulu Advertiser"
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