Heal the Ocean: Solutions for Saving Our Seas

by Rodney M. Fujita

An oil tanker breaks up off the coast of Spain, contaminating beaches and killing over one hundred thousand birds. Colorful coral reefs turn a deathly white around the world. Six whales die in the Bahamas from bleeding near their ears after the Navy tests an active sonar system there. After so much bad news, people are thirsting for workable solutions to the oceans crisis. Heal the Ocean provides a refreshing change in the literature by emphasizing success stories in the struggle to save the seas. The author-a marine ecologist dedicated to protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems-first describes the nature of ocean environments and then discusses current and emerging threats, including pollution, overfishing, poor land use, deep sea mining, and the search for new energy sources. Heal the Ocean then urges that we build upon efforts that have successfully countered such threats,
allowing natural processes to restore the San Francisco Bay and Delta
innovative wastewater treatment at Ecoparque, Baja, California
the world's first scientifically designed marine reserve network in California's Channel Islands
traditional stewardship of land and sea by native Hawaiians
economic incentives for sustainable fishing in Alaska
new international fishing agreements with teeth
shifting consumer demand to sustainable seafood
building constituencies for ocean conservation and creating a new ocean ethic using sophisticated social marketing and community-building techniques Upbeat and inspiring, Heal the Ocean will appeal to professional environmental advocates, community leaders, opinion-shapers, and policymakers, as well as any citizen aspiring to protect the ocean. Rod Fujita is a Senior Scientist with Environmental Defense, in Oakland, California. He has studied the ocean for over twenty years, logging hundreds of hours underwater studying ocean wildlife, as well as playing a key role in setting up marine reserves in the Florida Keys and the Channel Islands, California.

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book pretty interesting since sometimes the focus around climate change is the atmophere or other toxic pollutants. It was nice to see how things in the oceans are effected & what has made this process happen the way it has. The oceans are such a huge factor in determining what is actually happening & to what extent the damage is. There are things that you don't always pay attention to but this deifnitely brings it to the forefront.

[Soren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because of the inheriant optimism. Most books are simply narratives of an unavoidable doomsday or only 'suggest' goals inpossible for the global community to reach. Dont get me wrong: the author doesnt sugarcoat it. He simply sprinkles in useful and applicable real world solutions to the dire problems and disasterous predictions.

[Tim Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discusses the different parts of the oceans and the problems and potential solutions. The author ends with how we need to change as individuals and how people/nature are one. Very Zen at the end. Has a lot of conservation suggestions, especially at the policy level.