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The earth's oceans, once teeming with life,
are now increasingly threatened by killings on a stunning
scale and extinction of entire species. Acclaimed author
and artist Richard Ellis here tells the story of the great
losses our seas have suffered and what we can do to help
them recover. Through captivating portraits of a wide array
of creatures, Ellis introduces us to the many forms of sea
life that human beings have fished, hunted, and collected
over the centuries, from charismatic whales and dolphins
to the lowly menhaden, from sea turtles to cod, tuna, and
coral.
Rich in history, anecdote, and surprising
fact, the author's descriptions bring to life the natural
history of marine species, the threats they face, and their
continued struggles for survival. Ellis finds instances
of hope and resilience, of species that have begun to make
remarkable comebacks when given the opportunity.
Written with passion and grace, and illustrated
with Ellis's own drawings, The Empty Ocean gives
us a compelling and panoramic view of our relations with
the sea around us.
Richard Ellis is the author of 14 books,
including The Book of Whales, Monsters of the
Sea, The Book of Sharks, Imagining Atlantis,
The Search for the Giant Squid, and Aquagenesis.
A research associate at the American Museum of Natural History
in New York and a contributor to many magazines, Mr. Ellis
is also a celebrated artist. His paintings and drawings
of marine life have been exhibited in museums around the
world.
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