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The Death and Life of Monterey Bay: A Story of Revival
Anyone who has ever stood on the shores of Monterey Bay, watching the rolling ocean waves and frolicking otters, knows it is a unique place. But even residents on this idyllic California coast may not realize its full history. Monterey began as a natural paradise, but became the poster child for industrial devastation in John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row,and is now one of the most celebrated shorelines in the world.
It is a remarkable story of life, death, and revival—told here for the first time in all its stunning color and bleak grays. The Death and Life of Monterey Bay begins in the eighteenth century when Spanish and French explorers encountered a rocky shoreline brimming with life—raucous sea birds, abundant sea otters, barking sea lions, halibut the size of wagon wheels,waters thick with whales. A century and a half later, many of the sea creatures had disappeared, replaced by sardine canneries that sickened residents with their stench but kept the money flowing. When the fish ran out and the climate turned,the factories emptied and the community crumbled. But today,both Monterey’s economy and wildlife are resplendent. How did it happen?
The answer is deceptively through the extraordinary acts of ordinary people. The Death and Life of Monterey Bay is the biography of a place, but also of the residents who reclaimed it. Monterey is thriving because of an eccentric mayor who wasn’t afraid to use pistols, axes, or the force of law to protect her coasts. It is because of fishermen who love their livelihood, scientists who are fascinated by the sea’s mysteries, and philanthropists and community leaders willing to invest in a world-class aquarium. The shores of Monterey Bay revived because of human passion—passion that enlivens every page of this hopeful book.
It is a remarkable story of life, death, and revival—told here for the first time in all its stunning color and bleak grays. The Death and Life of Monterey Bay begins in the eighteenth century when Spanish and French explorers encountered a rocky shoreline brimming with life—raucous sea birds, abundant sea otters, barking sea lions, halibut the size of wagon wheels,waters thick with whales. A century and a half later, many of the sea creatures had disappeared, replaced by sardine canneries that sickened residents with their stench but kept the money flowing. When the fish ran out and the climate turned,the factories emptied and the community crumbled. But today,both Monterey’s economy and wildlife are resplendent. How did it happen?
The answer is deceptively through the extraordinary acts of ordinary people. The Death and Life of Monterey Bay is the biography of a place, but also of the residents who reclaimed it. Monterey is thriving because of an eccentric mayor who wasn’t afraid to use pistols, axes, or the force of law to protect her coasts. It is because of fishermen who love their livelihood, scientists who are fascinated by the sea’s mysteries, and philanthropists and community leaders willing to invest in a world-class aquarium. The shores of Monterey Bay revived because of human passion—passion that enlivens every page of this hopeful book.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
February 8, 2011
First of all, you need to know that I am a sucker for just about anything having to do with the sea in general, and of Monterey Bay in particular. With that said, this is not the first tale of changing tides and broadscale changes in Earth's history, e.g., The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Penguin Classics), The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany, but this tale is different. This is a tale of the history of the decline and recovery of one of the world's premier places of natural beauty and biological diversity. And, Palumbi (The Director of Hopkins Marine Station) and Sotka manage it in less than 200 pages! By comparison, I read Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and it took about a year of chipping away at that tome to get through it. This tale, however, was one I was able to polish off in less than a week.
Palumbi and Sotka have done a masterful job of telling the story of the Monterey Bay's unnatural history...that is, its interactions with humans. They start by telling of early French voyages to the Bay during the age of Spanish control of California, of the vast diversity of sealife there, including all manner of marine mammals, fishes, kelp, and etc. While the Spanish looked landward, the French and those who followed them recognized the bounty of the sea in the Bay. Soon thereafter follows the sad tale of the commercial overexploitation of one marine species after another until the Bay's original ecosystem was hammered. First it was sea otters hunted for their pelts (if you are interested in reading more about this you may want to try Morning of Fire: John Kendrick's Daring American Odyssey in the Pacific). Then came whalers who found abundant gray and humpback whales in the Bay. Then it was fish, especially sardines, and the boom of sardine canneries in Monterey in the early 1900s. If these kinds of accounts of over-exploitation are of interest to you, I recommend The Unnatural History of the Sea. Anyway, the offal and waste from Monterey's cannery row eventually polluted the Bay, and ecologically Monterey Bay had hit close to rock bottom, literally, since even the giant kelp could no longer exist there. Then things started to change...the otters weren't extinct after all...and to hear about the rest you will have to read the book.
I have spent a good deal of time in Monterey and Pacific Grove, and I know a bit about its history, especially the part connected to marine biology (Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck, Hopkins Marine Station, and the Monterey Bat Aquarium), but this book tells the tales of earlier times, and amazing people, like Julia Platt. She sounds amazing.
Be advised that this book does not provide a comprehensive history of the towns of Monterey and Pacific Grove, CA, or of the natural history of the Bay. But, enough of both are included to provide the essntial framework needed to understand what happened to the Bay in the past, and what is happening there now. This story is, nevertheless, dear to me since I did my PhD field work at the Hopkins Marine Station when I was a student at UC Santa Cruz in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I, of course, also spent time at other locations around the Bay, including a LOT of time in Santa Cruz.
What is the future of the Bay? Well, as of right now it actually looks brighter that its recent past. You will have to read the book to find out why.
This is a solid telling, thanks Steve! I enjoyed it.
4 solid stars.
Palumbi and Sotka have done a masterful job of telling the story of the Monterey Bay's unnatural history...that is, its interactions with humans. They start by telling of early French voyages to the Bay during the age of Spanish control of California, of the vast diversity of sealife there, including all manner of marine mammals, fishes, kelp, and etc. While the Spanish looked landward, the French and those who followed them recognized the bounty of the sea in the Bay. Soon thereafter follows the sad tale of the commercial overexploitation of one marine species after another until the Bay's original ecosystem was hammered. First it was sea otters hunted for their pelts (if you are interested in reading more about this you may want to try Morning of Fire: John Kendrick's Daring American Odyssey in the Pacific). Then came whalers who found abundant gray and humpback whales in the Bay. Then it was fish, especially sardines, and the boom of sardine canneries in Monterey in the early 1900s. If these kinds of accounts of over-exploitation are of interest to you, I recommend The Unnatural History of the Sea. Anyway, the offal and waste from Monterey's cannery row eventually polluted the Bay, and ecologically Monterey Bay had hit close to rock bottom, literally, since even the giant kelp could no longer exist there. Then things started to change...the otters weren't extinct after all...and to hear about the rest you will have to read the book.
I have spent a good deal of time in Monterey and Pacific Grove, and I know a bit about its history, especially the part connected to marine biology (Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck, Hopkins Marine Station, and the Monterey Bat Aquarium), but this book tells the tales of earlier times, and amazing people, like Julia Platt. She sounds amazing.
Be advised that this book does not provide a comprehensive history of the towns of Monterey and Pacific Grove, CA, or of the natural history of the Bay. But, enough of both are included to provide the essntial framework needed to understand what happened to the Bay in the past, and what is happening there now. This story is, nevertheless, dear to me since I did my PhD field work at the Hopkins Marine Station when I was a student at UC Santa Cruz in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I, of course, also spent time at other locations around the Bay, including a LOT of time in Santa Cruz.
What is the future of the Bay? Well, as of right now it actually looks brighter that its recent past. You will have to read the book to find out why.
This is a solid telling, thanks Steve! I enjoyed it.
4 solid stars.
May 7, 2014
I'm reasonably sure this book wasn't aimed at me; I'm a biology major, and while I haven't completed my degree I'm well enough versed in the basics of ecology and conservation that a lot of the scientific content here was well below my level. Palumbi and Sotka explained all of it anyway, which was a bit of a drag - not something I really minded in an active way, but something that slowed down my reading of the book and made me less engaged.
I think, on reflection, that one of the best uses for this book would be as a 'First Year Common Book', as the university where my mom teaches calls it: a book that every entering student of a given year reads and discusses. From what I know, these texts aren't often scientific in nature, but I think this one could work nicely - it raises a lot of questions, both scientific and activist, and it provides a good grounding that even people who stopped taking biology as soon as they could get away with it would likely have no trouble following. Moreover, it's a success story - it leaves readers with the feeling that environmental destruction can be overcome or counteracted, that it is not a permanent state, and that is vital.
(The writing in this was rather perfunctory in style, but there was one standout sentence: "By 1979 more than fifty harbor seals draped the rocks off China Point like a flotilla of sausages left by the tide.")
I think, on reflection, that one of the best uses for this book would be as a 'First Year Common Book', as the university where my mom teaches calls it: a book that every entering student of a given year reads and discusses. From what I know, these texts aren't often scientific in nature, but I think this one could work nicely - it raises a lot of questions, both scientific and activist, and it provides a good grounding that even people who stopped taking biology as soon as they could get away with it would likely have no trouble following. Moreover, it's a success story - it leaves readers with the feeling that environmental destruction can be overcome or counteracted, that it is not a permanent state, and that is vital.
(The writing in this was rather perfunctory in style, but there was one standout sentence: "By 1979 more than fifty harbor seals draped the rocks off China Point like a flotilla of sausages left by the tide.")
April 16, 2011
Loving nature can be exhausting. Constantly crises arise, reminding us of our ecological footprint, the impacts of what we eat and how much we drive. It can make a person crazy with guilt. This book is a refreshing perspective on environmental crises past, and the resilience of the amazing ecosystem of Monterey Bay. The authors count the impacts of the decimation of the otter population in the early 1800s, which caused a domino effect where the boom of otter prey items such as abalone and sea urchin munched the kelp forest down to nubs. They follow the impacts of harvest of whales, abalones, sardines, and bird eggs. Palumbi, one of those polymath ecology geniuses, describes how abalone larval recruitment and whale population biology are keys to these changes.
The local history is folded in to the ecology of the bay, with the fabulous story of 1930s Pacific Grove mayor and PhD marine biologist Julia Platt who shot chickens invading her garden and protected the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge. He introduces the intellectual group of Ed Ricketts, John Steinbeck, and Joseph Campbell whose lives intertwined in Monterey- Ricketts, who collaborated with Steinbeck on The Sea of Cortez, was portrayed as Doc in Cannery Row. Palumbi draws a parallel between the dustbowl that is the foundation of the Grapes of Wrath and the sardine overfishing in Monterey Bay.
The book is at its best when the focus is on ecology and key historical figures. Occasionally the authors' efforts to include personal histories are clumsy and intrusive, including a couple dating in the midst of the sardine cannery accounts. But these are short interruptions. The big picture of a region that has survived threats from so many sides and emerged as an ambassador of ocean ecosystems is an encouraging story. The book finishes with the construction of the landmark Monterey Bay Aquarium on the footprint of the defunct canneries and its overwhelming success.
It is important to remember how much things have improved over time. It always seems like things are at their worst right now, but I'm going to try to imagine Monterey Bay over the last 200 years when I'm feeling discouraged. It has overcome the abuse, going from a wasteland stripped of otters and kelp to polluted with fish guts and cannery stench to an otter and whale-watching tourist destination. Thanks to Palumbi for showing us that the glass is half full in Monterey Bay.
Thanks to Island Press for the opportunity to read this egalley for free through netgalley.
The local history is folded in to the ecology of the bay, with the fabulous story of 1930s Pacific Grove mayor and PhD marine biologist Julia Platt who shot chickens invading her garden and protected the Hopkins Marine Life Refuge. He introduces the intellectual group of Ed Ricketts, John Steinbeck, and Joseph Campbell whose lives intertwined in Monterey- Ricketts, who collaborated with Steinbeck on The Sea of Cortez, was portrayed as Doc in Cannery Row. Palumbi draws a parallel between the dustbowl that is the foundation of the Grapes of Wrath and the sardine overfishing in Monterey Bay.
The book is at its best when the focus is on ecology and key historical figures. Occasionally the authors' efforts to include personal histories are clumsy and intrusive, including a couple dating in the midst of the sardine cannery accounts. But these are short interruptions. The big picture of a region that has survived threats from so many sides and emerged as an ambassador of ocean ecosystems is an encouraging story. The book finishes with the construction of the landmark Monterey Bay Aquarium on the footprint of the defunct canneries and its overwhelming success.
It is important to remember how much things have improved over time. It always seems like things are at their worst right now, but I'm going to try to imagine Monterey Bay over the last 200 years when I'm feeling discouraged. It has overcome the abuse, going from a wasteland stripped of otters and kelp to polluted with fish guts and cannery stench to an otter and whale-watching tourist destination. Thanks to Palumbi for showing us that the glass is half full in Monterey Bay.
Thanks to Island Press for the opportunity to read this egalley for free through netgalley.
September 11, 2021
What a great journey through the times and lives of Monterey and Pacific grove. As one of my favorite areas on this planet, every page made me walk around there in different ages. I love the way it is written, although sometimes a bit too much in detail.
The authors have done a great job to blend multiple science areas into one interesting book.
The only downside? I now have to read some Steinbeck books all over again.
The authors have done a great job to blend multiple science areas into one interesting book.
The only downside? I now have to read some Steinbeck books all over again.
September 8, 2025
As a multi visitor to the Monterey Bay Aquarium since the late 1990’s & early 2000’s I really appreciated this book.
It encapsulates the rise, fall and rebirth of Monterey Bay so well. It encompasses the history, the people central to its past and present, the industries involved leading up to the present.
It shows what we as human are capable of.
It encapsulates the rise, fall and rebirth of Monterey Bay so well. It encompasses the history, the people central to its past and present, the industries involved leading up to the present.
It shows what we as human are capable of.
August 4, 2021
If possible, I’d have rated “The Death and Life of Monterey Bay” 3.5 stars. Generally, this book is an accessible overview of the history of interactions between people and the Monterey Bay. It’s not too heavy on scientific jargon, and all of the explanations of ecological/biological systems were already well known to me (PhD student in Marine and Environmental Science). For this reason, I think it would make a great introductory book for students to read in 100-level undergraduate classes. This book asks readers to consider questions of activism, conservation, and fundamental marine science that would enrich a classroom discussion.
That being said, I think the writing of this book is cyclical - I got whiplash from chapters rolling through decades in the span of a sentence or two. It’s difficult to track trends when a timespan from the early 1800s to ~1960 is being rehashed every chapter.
I purchased this book was to satiate my interest in how the town of Monterey transformed from Cannery Row to the global icon of marine conservation it is today. Disappointingly, the book glossed over this transition in only one short chapter at the end.
Lastly, the authors seemed to be attempting to revive Steinbeck’s silent grandeur of “Cannery Row” in their chosen structure, but micro-passages focused on one fleeting character did nothing to further the message of this book. While I find value in Ed Ricketts philosophy of life, I think that a lack of simplicity made this book a drawn-out and slow read.
That being said, I think the writing of this book is cyclical - I got whiplash from chapters rolling through decades in the span of a sentence or two. It’s difficult to track trends when a timespan from the early 1800s to ~1960 is being rehashed every chapter.
I purchased this book was to satiate my interest in how the town of Monterey transformed from Cannery Row to the global icon of marine conservation it is today. Disappointingly, the book glossed over this transition in only one short chapter at the end.
Lastly, the authors seemed to be attempting to revive Steinbeck’s silent grandeur of “Cannery Row” in their chosen structure, but micro-passages focused on one fleeting character did nothing to further the message of this book. While I find value in Ed Ricketts philosophy of life, I think that a lack of simplicity made this book a drawn-out and slow read.
June 25, 2021
A really accessible read about the natural history of Monterey Bay.
I loved the organization, moving from exploited natural resource to natural resource, Palumbi shows how the bay brought capitalists to the bay and the effects on the environment as first sea otters, then whales, then even sardines were hunted to the brink of extinction, bringing environmental collapse (without otters to consume abalone and sea urchins, the kelp forests in the bay were consumed, for example) as well as economic malaise--the closing of the sardine canneries immortalized by John Steinbeck, as well as the whaling business in the late 19th-century.
He closes with an account of the founding of Monterey Bay Acquarium which provides a happy ending to this saga. Having visited Monterey recently, I can attest that more money is made--and more sustainably--boating tourists out in the bay to see whales and seals than ever was made hunting them and boiling down their blubber.
This is a good book for those looking forward to a visit to Monterey--or who wish to look back fondly on their visit.
I loved the organization, moving from exploited natural resource to natural resource, Palumbi shows how the bay brought capitalists to the bay and the effects on the environment as first sea otters, then whales, then even sardines were hunted to the brink of extinction, bringing environmental collapse (without otters to consume abalone and sea urchins, the kelp forests in the bay were consumed, for example) as well as economic malaise--the closing of the sardine canneries immortalized by John Steinbeck, as well as the whaling business in the late 19th-century.
He closes with an account of the founding of Monterey Bay Acquarium which provides a happy ending to this saga. Having visited Monterey recently, I can attest that more money is made--and more sustainably--boating tourists out in the bay to see whales and seals than ever was made hunting them and boiling down their blubber.
This is a good book for those looking forward to a visit to Monterey--or who wish to look back fondly on their visit.
May 3, 2013
Palumbi and Sotka did a fantastic job of blending the social and economic history of the Monterey Bay region with the tale of the decline and revival of the marine ecosystem. I'm a marine ecologist, and I thought that they did an elegant job of introducing readers to an array of important subjects in an accessible manner and without using jargon. The information is scientifically accurate, but presented in a lovely narrative and tied to the lives of the people who inhabit the shoreline. The importance of a healthy Monterey Bay ecosystem is demonstrated by showing the consequences to marine life and to human life when overfishing and pollution go unchecked. This book is a must-read if you spend any time in the Monterey Bay area, but it is also a great read for anyone interested in conservation, marine life, or California history.
Read
June 16, 2019I visited Monterey last summer after Worldcon and saw immense amounts of wildlife (and not just in the aquarium, either), so I was shocked to learn that the place basically used to be a wasteland covered in refuse from canned fish factories. When I saw that there was a nonfiction book about this topic, I knew I had to pick it up.
It was unexpectedly good - not just interesting content, but also a good read. Fascinating stories about how the marine ecosystem of Monterey Bay was steamrolled by multiple waves of industrial exploitation and how it recovered, and the people who had key roles in this recovery. (There is some juicy municipal politics, and some shooting at chickens, and also the Wave Machine.)
_____
Source of the book: Bought with my own money. I got a travel grant to Worldcon from the LGBTQ Initiative.
It was unexpectedly good - not just interesting content, but also a good read. Fascinating stories about how the marine ecosystem of Monterey Bay was steamrolled by multiple waves of industrial exploitation and how it recovered, and the people who had key roles in this recovery. (There is some juicy municipal politics, and some shooting at chickens, and also the Wave Machine.)
_____
Source of the book: Bought with my own money. I got a travel grant to Worldcon from the LGBTQ Initiative.
June 14, 2015
The Death and Life of Monterey Bay is an interesting and informative book about the history of the Monterey, California area. It covers everything from early settlers to John Steinbeck's time in Monterey, to the founding of the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Despite having co-written several scientific papers, the author Stephen Palumbi tries hard to present the material in an engaging fashion. At times, I felt he tried too hard to make it interesting. The book also focuses on numbers and certain species living in the bay, especially species that were exploited by the people living in the area. The author also focuses on the personalities of historical figures presented in the books.
I would recommend this book for history buffs and people who want to learn more about the Monterey area.
I would recommend this book for history buffs and people who want to learn more about the Monterey area.
May 9, 2016
This was an interesting look at the history of Monterey Bay and how over fishing almost destroyed the marine life in the bay. Due to some colorful people, the area is now home to a thriving community of various creatures and quite the tourist destination.
August 5, 2015
It's rare to read a book about the renewal of an ecosystem.
November 27, 2016
A reminder of humankind's rapaciousness and a reminder that some of the destruction wrought by such can be reversed. A bit repetitive in its storytelling...
March 6, 2017
The cautionary tale/uplifting story of the Monterey Bay area and some of the individuals who contributed to its re-creation. Spoiler: the beloved local sea otter emerges as a hero!
February 3, 2025
The Death & Life of Monterey Bay by Stephen R. Palumbi and Carolyn Sotka is an enlightening and engaging read. I live in the Bay Area but am in love with the beautiful Monterey Bay. This book, with easy-to-understand explanation, goes through the Monterey Bay's cycle of being bountiful and healthy to unhealthy and no longer thriving as over centuries, people exploited the bay and it's sea life for profit.
The otters were the first to dissappear from the bay, as the mammal's pelt was cherished in China for fashion during the late 18th century. The otters were hunted near extinction, and the bay's kelp forests went with them. In the following centuries, the bay was stripped of much of its whales, abalone, and squid, all for financial gain. In the 20th century, the canneries came in and stripped the bay of its sardines. It was not until sardines were overfished and their numbers dwindling significantly that the canneries were forced to close.
The bay sat void of much of the health and vitality that once defined it. The cannery closures left behind fish guts polluting the water.
But with the bay quiet after the cannery shutdowns, the otters slowly made their return, and with their dietary habits, the kelp returned, bringing seals, fish and birds back to the bay.
This book about the revival of Monterey Bay is very well told and gives details on the people who inhabited the bay, including author John Steinback, Chinese and Italian fishermen, and fierce advocates of the bay.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book on the history of the bay and how important it is to take care of the oceans we've inherited. I highly recommend this book! It was an eye-opener!
The otters were the first to dissappear from the bay, as the mammal's pelt was cherished in China for fashion during the late 18th century. The otters were hunted near extinction, and the bay's kelp forests went with them. In the following centuries, the bay was stripped of much of its whales, abalone, and squid, all for financial gain. In the 20th century, the canneries came in and stripped the bay of its sardines. It was not until sardines were overfished and their numbers dwindling significantly that the canneries were forced to close.
The bay sat void of much of the health and vitality that once defined it. The cannery closures left behind fish guts polluting the water.
But with the bay quiet after the cannery shutdowns, the otters slowly made their return, and with their dietary habits, the kelp returned, bringing seals, fish and birds back to the bay.
This book about the revival of Monterey Bay is very well told and gives details on the people who inhabited the bay, including author John Steinback, Chinese and Italian fishermen, and fierce advocates of the bay.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book on the history of the bay and how important it is to take care of the oceans we've inherited. I highly recommend this book! It was an eye-opener!
May 10, 2023
This was such a delightful read. I know the story of recovery has progressed since this book’s publication (2011), and I hope it continues to go well. Monterey Bay has a special place in my heart and I felt emotionally connected throughout this whole book (even cried when the otters returned).
Absolutely recommend this book to anyone local to the area, or anyone who has even a passing interest in environmental conservation. A wonderful story that details a huge environmental comeback that left me wanting to help out where I can and hoping for similar comebacks all over the world.
Absolutely recommend this book to anyone local to the area, or anyone who has even a passing interest in environmental conservation. A wonderful story that details a huge environmental comeback that left me wanting to help out where I can and hoping for similar comebacks all over the world.
July 9, 2024
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this one more than I did, it was an interesting intro to Monterey Bay and would have been nice to read when I first moved to the region. Now, knowing what I know, it was a little less riveting, and I think I’ve also grown a bit tired to the Ed Ricketts/Julia Platt/Steinbeck/Packard hagiographies that seem to dominate this and other narratives.
February 8, 2023
History of Monterey Bay, from successive population crashes from over-harvesting (first sea otters then whales then abalone then sardines) and pollution to protection and recovery.
September 28, 2022
Great history of the bay but could have been more detailed, glossed over lots of parts.
November 7, 2015
This is an excellent book, a remarkable story about a remarkable place. The Monterey Bay, before the Europeans moved in, was incredibly rich in natural resources. One by one these were exploited, but through innovative and dedicated citizens, it has made an exemplary turnaround.
By the time the Spaniards arrived, the “First California Gold Rush” was taking all the otters for their fur. The book achieves a great mix of history with the biology of the local ecosystem. We read how otters can stay warm in the cold water, how sea urchins get around, and how the connectedness of life can be seen in the cascade of one overharvest and the rise and fall of other species. The greater environment of course makes this place unique, and its rhythm for a long time directed the livelihood of its citizens. The figures throughout the book add a lot, helping to demonstrate certain trends.
The problem of the whales was of particular interest to me. The historical harvest of gray whales did not result in the number of expected extant whales. I got excited when they turned to genetics, but the numbers still didn’t match the calculations based on previous estimates. This invites further pondering.
Turning to shellfish, I knew that abalone shells are beautiful, but I didn’t know much about the critters themselves. Squid were another natural resource, notably for the Chinese community, who dried and salted the creatures, making a big literal stink about it. The squid were used, however, to ship salt to China to evade the emperor’s tax. Such tidbits fill this book, along with the origins of names of places, like Lovers Point (formerly known as Lovers of Jesus Point). Quotes from Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous author and resident, are also mixed in to good effect.
One of the coolest people to influence this community was Dr. Julia Platt, who had to go to Germany for grad school because the U.S. wouldn’t have her. Julia did far more than shoot a few pesky stray chickens and tear down the wall that kept people from the beach. Perhaps her greatest contribution was the creation of the marine reserve, and the foresight that this would one day help the area recover. By then the canneries were in full swing, and the drying squid was just a prelude to the stench and pollution that would surround the massive and exhaustive sardine canning industry.
Ed Ricketts, Joseph Campbell, and John Steinbeck arrived on the scene. They happened to be in the same place and time as the canneries, though their thoughts were quite different from the dominant industry. Fellow Steinbeck fans will appreciate some of the stories behind the scenes. It is interesting to see how the friends’ shared philosophies entered his writing. Ed Ricketts was influential in his own right, and saw the big ecological picture before it came into focus.
One thing I really like about this book is that each chapter sets up the next. The last third of the book chronicles the recovery of Monterey Bay, including the conception and construction of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the first to showcase local flora and fauna. It is a celebration of nature’s beauty and of humans playing a positive role to keep it alive.
Note: this book was provided through Net Galley, and my review also appears on my blog (http://matt-stats.blogspot.com/).
By the time the Spaniards arrived, the “First California Gold Rush” was taking all the otters for their fur. The book achieves a great mix of history with the biology of the local ecosystem. We read how otters can stay warm in the cold water, how sea urchins get around, and how the connectedness of life can be seen in the cascade of one overharvest and the rise and fall of other species. The greater environment of course makes this place unique, and its rhythm for a long time directed the livelihood of its citizens. The figures throughout the book add a lot, helping to demonstrate certain trends.
The problem of the whales was of particular interest to me. The historical harvest of gray whales did not result in the number of expected extant whales. I got excited when they turned to genetics, but the numbers still didn’t match the calculations based on previous estimates. This invites further pondering.
Turning to shellfish, I knew that abalone shells are beautiful, but I didn’t know much about the critters themselves. Squid were another natural resource, notably for the Chinese community, who dried and salted the creatures, making a big literal stink about it. The squid were used, however, to ship salt to China to evade the emperor’s tax. Such tidbits fill this book, along with the origins of names of places, like Lovers Point (formerly known as Lovers of Jesus Point). Quotes from Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous author and resident, are also mixed in to good effect.
One of the coolest people to influence this community was Dr. Julia Platt, who had to go to Germany for grad school because the U.S. wouldn’t have her. Julia did far more than shoot a few pesky stray chickens and tear down the wall that kept people from the beach. Perhaps her greatest contribution was the creation of the marine reserve, and the foresight that this would one day help the area recover. By then the canneries were in full swing, and the drying squid was just a prelude to the stench and pollution that would surround the massive and exhaustive sardine canning industry.
Ed Ricketts, Joseph Campbell, and John Steinbeck arrived on the scene. They happened to be in the same place and time as the canneries, though their thoughts were quite different from the dominant industry. Fellow Steinbeck fans will appreciate some of the stories behind the scenes. It is interesting to see how the friends’ shared philosophies entered his writing. Ed Ricketts was influential in his own right, and saw the big ecological picture before it came into focus.
One thing I really like about this book is that each chapter sets up the next. The last third of the book chronicles the recovery of Monterey Bay, including the conception and construction of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the first to showcase local flora and fauna. It is a celebration of nature’s beauty and of humans playing a positive role to keep it alive.
Note: this book was provided through Net Galley, and my review also appears on my blog (http://matt-stats.blogspot.com/).
March 10, 2019
Why did I award this book five stars? Primarily because I live in the Monterey Bay area, kayak and hike here and really enjoyed reading the local history and learning about the discovery, prosperity, demise and resurrection of the bay area. Despite my prejudiced perspective in this regard, the book is well-written, flows smoothly and maintains reader interest.
It had been my intention to read this book when it first came out, but this intention joined the stockpile of unfulfilled intentions for quite a few years.
A few highlights I culled from the book:
- The foresight, dedication and persistence of a few people can effect change and lead to a betterment of the environment from which many will benefit for many generations.
- The human propensity to identify a profitable resource leads to the human propensity to take as much as the resource as possible with no regard to the long-term effects. Namely, when we discover a well, we suck it dry!
- Given some leeway, nature has a way to rejuvenate itself.
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium began with an unplanned vision, and grew in scope, size, and cost as this vision developed. It would be safe to say that this is the "crown jewel" of the bay (although the crown itself is the bay itself with its remarkable array of marine mammals, fish, birds, and coastal beauty).
- Racism and prejudice made its mark on the bay, particularly in regard to the perception and treatment of the Chinese fishermen.
- The tenacity of some local women have made a profound difference in the recovery of the bay, despite strong pushback from a male-dominated society.
- There continues to be a tension between interests (e.g. tourism, agriculture, fishing, environmentalism, economics) as to the best path forward, but such tension is healthy, provided all involved act in good faith, share a positive vision for the future and are willing to compromise and keep each other in check.
- The story of the Monterey Bay's demise and rise is a beacon of hope to other environments around the country and the world. People are attracted to the beauty and restorative powers of a healthy natural environment, so even local economies benefit.
Good book--wish I had read sooner--definitely one I will share with others.
It had been my intention to read this book when it first came out, but this intention joined the stockpile of unfulfilled intentions for quite a few years.
A few highlights I culled from the book:
- The foresight, dedication and persistence of a few people can effect change and lead to a betterment of the environment from which many will benefit for many generations.
- The human propensity to identify a profitable resource leads to the human propensity to take as much as the resource as possible with no regard to the long-term effects. Namely, when we discover a well, we suck it dry!
- Given some leeway, nature has a way to rejuvenate itself.
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium began with an unplanned vision, and grew in scope, size, and cost as this vision developed. It would be safe to say that this is the "crown jewel" of the bay (although the crown itself is the bay itself with its remarkable array of marine mammals, fish, birds, and coastal beauty).
- Racism and prejudice made its mark on the bay, particularly in regard to the perception and treatment of the Chinese fishermen.
- The tenacity of some local women have made a profound difference in the recovery of the bay, despite strong pushback from a male-dominated society.
- There continues to be a tension between interests (e.g. tourism, agriculture, fishing, environmentalism, economics) as to the best path forward, but such tension is healthy, provided all involved act in good faith, share a positive vision for the future and are willing to compromise and keep each other in check.
- The story of the Monterey Bay's demise and rise is a beacon of hope to other environments around the country and the world. People are attracted to the beauty and restorative powers of a healthy natural environment, so even local economies benefit.
Good book--wish I had read sooner--definitely one I will share with others.
August 14, 2013
A great book to read after visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but if you've never been to the Aquarium, and you are planning a trip, it would be a very good idea, to read it ahead of time. It would really enhance your visit. I remember going to Monterey as a child when it was a nasty, smelly, run down place, there was no aquarium. I looked at some of the graphics in the book and remembered growing up fishing, and how the experiences that we had, mirrored the studies. Some of the old recreational fishermen knew that the writing was on the wall, I'm thinking.... especially for the Salmon fisheries, and it was a real shame that they didn't put their voices together. One big example was watching the foreign fishing trawlers offshore, destroying the California fishery in the late 70's. A lot of the fishing and tourism industry that thrived along the Calif. and Oregon coast, no longer exist, due to the collapse of the salmon fishery. I can remember when the Salmon were so thick, you could stand on a bridge and see a wall of solid fish swimming up the streams. You can't see that now, that's for sure. So went the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Sardine industry. It was really interesting to read about David Packard, and the influence of Carnegie on his corporate ethics. The loss of that kind of ethics in corporations today, is also something to grieve over. It's a cautionary tale, it made me extremely sad, but at the same time gave me a lot of hope for the future. I sincerely hope that bright young people in middle school, high school, and college today... read this book!!
August 17, 2013
I had the privilege of attending a day-long seminar at Hopkins Marine Station last year, sponsored by the Stanford Continuing Studies program (Stanford owns the Marine Station). Dr. Palumbi was the keynote speaker and gave a short intro into the cycle of death in rebirth in Monterey Bay, and I was motivated to read more about it. I have been visiting the area since the early 1970's, at which time the area was still suffering economically and ecologically from the collapse of the sardine fishing industry. 1964 was the last year of canning, and cannery row was still a waste land of crumbling, boarded up buildings behind chain link fence.
This short book recounts the relatively quick collapse of the Bay ecosystem when humans disrupted the normal cycle. Julie Platt, former mayor of Pacific Grove, had a marine biology degree and could see how badly the bay had declined and knew that human activity was the cause of the decay. She fought tirelessly and sometimes ruthlessly to preserve and repair the Bay.
Her legacy, and that of the other preservationists who took up the cause, is apparent today in the thriving wildlife, ecology and economy that characterizes the beautiful Monterey Bay area.
The book, while painting a grim picture of the devastation caused by human interference in the ecosystem of the Bay, also gives hope that, by thoughtful study, committed research, and appropriate legislation, the ecological balance of an area can be effectively restored. There is hope that the damage done by humans can be reversed !
This short book recounts the relatively quick collapse of the Bay ecosystem when humans disrupted the normal cycle. Julie Platt, former mayor of Pacific Grove, had a marine biology degree and could see how badly the bay had declined and knew that human activity was the cause of the decay. She fought tirelessly and sometimes ruthlessly to preserve and repair the Bay.
Her legacy, and that of the other preservationists who took up the cause, is apparent today in the thriving wildlife, ecology and economy that characterizes the beautiful Monterey Bay area.
The book, while painting a grim picture of the devastation caused by human interference in the ecosystem of the Bay, also gives hope that, by thoughtful study, committed research, and appropriate legislation, the ecological balance of an area can be effectively restored. There is hope that the damage done by humans can be reversed !
December 6, 2016
Hello People, I would just like to give you a short insight on my opinion of this book. First of all, if you are going to read this, stick with it and keep at it. Don't stop partway through. This is not because this book is the most well written book I have ever read, but rather you will be missing out on an important message. If you stop, you will be sad, but if you finish, you may just have some hope for the future. This book might a little heavy for younger readers, and is defiantly a good read (see what i did there;) for juniors and seniors. Going along with that is one of my qualms about this story. I feel that, even though it was written by scientists without the usual jargon that usually accompany research papers, it is too scholarly for most people to get the full experience. In my class where we read this book we took about a month, and I would say that we could still be talking about it. I feel like some of the authors claims, mainly about the state of the Monterey bay before it became a sanctuary are a bit exaggerated for poetic effect, but I just don't know, nor do I really want to. I was born in '98, so i have no context of the destruction that was once there. In one of the sub-chapters, the book described one ladies experience. she had recently moved from Hawaii to Monterey, but when she went swimming, the first thing she saw in the water were fish heads and guts. i don't know if this true, or an exaggeration. Either way, this is a well written and well rounded book. I would give it a 4.5/5.
March 26, 2011
With an interesting title - Death and Life - Palumbi and Sotka open the door to the history of Monterey Bay. What was almost totally descimated is now a resplendent coastline full of wildlife and areas of enjoyment for all. But it hasn't always been this way and it was a long, hard struggle to reclaim the area. Commerce, canneries, and consequences threatened to completely destroy this area, killing off the animals, and driving people away. But, a mayor with a vision and the help of many around her, reclaimed the area for all to enjoy.
I enjoyed reading the history of Monterey Bay, something I hadn't spent much time really thinking about. It was interesting to read about the unintended consequences of the canneries and the fight to reclaim the area. If you love coastlines and the plethora of creatures that inhabit them, you will enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book on my Nook. The opinions here are my own.
I enjoyed reading the history of Monterey Bay, something I hadn't spent much time really thinking about. It was interesting to read about the unintended consequences of the canneries and the fight to reclaim the area. If you love coastlines and the plethora of creatures that inhabit them, you will enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book on my Nook. The opinions here are my own.
October 16, 2019
The book is largely about the ecological devastation wrought upon Monterey bay by over exploitation, particularly fishing. The scenes it paints about the early days of the bay and the bounty of marine life and other animals, especially otters, makes you long for an era when man’s greed did not ruin all environments it touched. But the story of the bay’s recovery is also inspirational. It shows that with vision and commitment, man’s wrongs can be reversed. At least partly. I know Monterey bay fairly well, and consider it a lovely and wonderful place. I’ve dived there a few times. But it will never be like what it was, and that can be saddening. But the fact that we can turn things around in some places is a story worth telling. And the authors do a wonderful job with this.
September 6, 2016
This was an easy read doesn't go to deep into ecology so it's hard to understand. I like how the authors cover a wide variety of subjects from the different animals and the people or characters in the story. I usually complain that books are too long and could be reduced page-wise white a bit. But, actually, my one complaint is that I feel this isn't log enough. I think the chapters could've been expanded. I'm sure the authors had plenty of info tonsure about. I don't lnownifntheu were trying to keep it an easy read, but I just wanted more. Which essentially shows you that I really enjoyed reading this. Maybe they'll come out with a sequel. ;)
November 11, 2020
Part character study and part natural history, this book took me on a trip through the despoiling and recovery of a beautiful treasure on California’s coast. Overall, I enjoyed learning more about how and why Monterey Bay transformed over time and how its plundering was driven as much by economic pressures as cultural attitudes.
My one quibble with the style of the book is that it was put together as a collection of topics or episodes, and these topics often repeated previous parts of the book. It could’ve used some editing so that this repetition felt less like an accident and more like a purposeful strategy.
My one quibble with the style of the book is that it was put together as a collection of topics or episodes, and these topics often repeated previous parts of the book. It could’ve used some editing so that this repetition felt less like an accident and more like a purposeful strategy.
November 26, 2013
No doubt that marine biologists might like to see a bit more about the otters and shellfish and historians might wish for more on the people and socio-political circumstances that surround the death and life of Monterey Bay, but this is a wonderful little book about a very special place. As the authors explain in the introduction, the death and revival of this complex ecosystem come from both the resilience of nature and the passions of the human beings who live in its midst. This book is both highly engaging and highly educational.
August 16, 2019
This is a must read book for anyone who lives in Monterey or interested in the area of Monterey. The book explain the exploitation of the sea in Monterey, starting with otters, then whales then Sardines, etc. Then it explains the decline then the recovery of the sea and the land of Monterey Bay. It give you a good overview of today’s Monterey.
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