Marine biology Books

Book SynopsisIdentify marine mammals on your whale-watching trips and beach outings along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Seeing a whale is an experience unlike any other. You wait, you hope, and when a beautiful creature breaks the ocean surface, the moment is as thrilling as it is unforgettable. Whether you’re a tourist on vacation or a local resident on a day trip, keep this booklet close at hand. Written by environmental educator and Emmy Award-winning documentary film producer Stan Minasian, it features more than 20 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. When you spot a marine mammal in the Pacific Ocean, check this guide to identify it and learn more about it! The tabbed booklet is applicable to the coastal waters of California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, and Alaska. It provides a brief introduction to cetaceans (marine mammals) and outlines what to expect when watching whales from land or while on a cruise. The guide also presents the best land-bas

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Book SynopsisThe Utah Mollusk Identification Guide offers up-to-date information for identifying aquatic and terrestrial snails, slugs, clams, and mussels within the state of Utah, providing comparative tables, taxonomic keys, and more than 230 images, including many type specimen images published for the first time. Amateur naturalists and biologists alike will benefit from detailed information regarding size, type, specimen location, junior synonyms (including taxonomy notes), original descriptions for each of the 139 species, and comments to help differentiate similar species.In contrast to older guides, this book includes data on the external and internal anatomy of mollusks. Taxonomic names are updated to incorporate the latest information available. Family descriptions and miscellaneous data on ecology, life history, and genetics are also presented. Distribution data are based on historical articles, museum records, personal observations, and collections. Although the focus is on Utah mollusks, many species are widely distributed and the data, images, references, and taxonomy details within the guide will be of interest to many outside the state.Trade Review“The first update of Utah mollusks since the 1929 Chamberlin and Jones volume. This book will unify the taxonomy in Utah and adjacent regions of aquatic and terrestrial mollusks and their habitat, a necessity for intermountain biological diversity and for conservation assessments.”—Peter Hovingh, retired biologist, expert on western mollusks "Wagner’s guide is a much needed, monumental contribution to mollusk conservation in Utah. Readers will find the comprehensiveness of this guide incredibly helpful, and it will become the new go-to resource for anyone interested in Utah mollusks."—Kate Holcomb, Statewide Mollusk Specialist, Utah Division of Wildlife ResourcesTable of Contents Preface Acknowledgments What’s in the Guide Introduction Utah Gastropoda Key Phylum Mollusca The Freshwater Snails The Terrestrial Snails Utah Bivalvia Key Mussels and Clams Bibliography Glossary

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Book SynopsisIn the last 50 years marine conservation has grown from almost nothing to become a major topic of global activity involving many people and organisations. Marine conservation activities have been applied to a huge diversity of species, habitats, ecosystems and whole seas. Many marine conservation actions have focused on human impacts on the marine environment from development and pollution to the impacts of fisheries. Whilst science has provided the backbone of thinking on marine conservation, perhaps the biggest change over this period has been the use of an ever-increasing range of techniques and disciplines to further marine conservation ends. Bob Earll explores what marine conservation involves in practice by providing a synthesis of the main developments from the viewpoints of 19 leading practitioners and pioneers who have helped shape its progress and successes. Their narratives highlight the diversity and richness of activity, and the realities of delivering marine conservation in practice with reference to a host of projects and case studies. Many of these narratives demonstrate how innovative conservationists have been – often developing novel approaches to problems where little information and no frameworks exist. The case studies described are based on a wide range of European and international projects. This book takes an in-depth look at the reality of delivering marine conservation in practice, where achieving change is often a complicated process, with barriers to overcome that have nothing to do with science. Marine conservationists will often be working with stakeholders for whom marine conservation is not a priority. This book aims to help readers describe and understand those realities, and shows that successful and inspirational projects can be delivered against the odds.Trade ReviewA very useful and readable little book. -- Nick Owen * The Marine Biologist *I highly recommend this book for all involved in the history and evolution of marine conservation... -- Professor Mike Elliott * ECSA Bulletin *Table of ContentsForeword Acronyms and abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Marine conservation 3. People 4. Ideas 5. Roger Mitchell 6. Keith Hiscock 7. Sue Gubbay 8. Joan Edwards 9. Dan Laffoley 10. Callum Roberts 11. Jon C. Day 12. Keith Probert 13. Heather Koldewey 14. Sarah Fowler 15. Euan Dunn 16. Simon Brockington 17. Sue Sayer 18. Alan Knight 19. Paul Horsman 20. Chris Rose 21. Peter Barham 22. Charles 'Bud' Ehler 23. Elliott Norse 24. Action 25. Conclusion References Index

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Book SynopsisEstuarine and coastal waters are acknowledged centres for anthropogenic impacts. Superimposed on the complex natural interactions between land, rivers and sea are the myriad consequences of human activity – a spectrum ranging from locally polluting effluents to some of the severest consequences of global climate change. For practitioners, academics and students in the field of coastal science and policy, this timely book examines and exemplifies current and future challenges: from upper estuaries to open coasts and adjacent seas; from tropical to temperate latitudes; from Europe to Australia. This authoritative volume marks the 50th anniversary of the Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association. Drawing on the expertise of more than 60 specialist contributors, individual chapters address coastal erosion and deposition; open shores to estuaries and deltas; marine plastics; coastal squeeze and habitat loss; tidal freshwaters – saline incursion and estuarine squeeze; restoration management using remote data collection; carbon storage; species distribution and non-natives; shorebirds; Modelling environmental change; physical processes such as sediments and modelling; sea level rise and estuarine tidal dynamics; estuaries as fish nurseries; policy versus reality in coastal conservation; developments in estuarine, coastal and marine management. In addition to providing an overview of current scientific understanding, the material gathered here offers a clear-eyed perspective on what needs to be done to protect these fragile – and vital – ecosystems.Trade ReviewI enjoyed this volume and learned a great deal from it. The contributions are concise and generally thought-provoking, and a useful aid for teaching across many levels; the volume will also bring new researchers or interdisciplinary colleagues in allied fields up-to-date. -- David M. Paterson, Ocean ChallengeTable of ContentsPreface John Humphreys and Sally Little Prologue Richard S.K. Barnes Foreword: The Origins and History of the Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association Martin Wilkinson and Donald McLusky 1. Morphodynamics of Tropical Atlantic River Mouths and their Adjacent Shorelines Helene Burningham, Silvia Palotti Polizel and Awa Bousso Dramé 2. Coastal Erosion and Management Challenges in the United Kingdom Kenneth Pye and Simon J. Blott 3. Challenges of Sea-level Rise on Estuarine Tidal Dynamics Danial Khojasteh, Jamie Ruprecht, Katrina Waddington, Hamed Moftakhari, Amir AghaKouchak and William Glamore 4. Estimating the Residence Time in Estuaries: Methods and Application Paula Birocchi, Juliana Correa Neiva Ferreira and Marcelo Dottori 5. Coastal and Estuarine Physical Processes: Looking Back, Looking Forwards Steven B. Mitchell and Reginald J. Uncles 6. Marine Plastics: Emerging Challenges and Priorities for Estuaries and Coasts Anthony W. Gallagher, Malcolm D. Hudson, Oliver T. Brooks and Jessica L. Stead 7. Estuarine Tidal Freshwater Zones in a Changing Climate: Meeting the Challenge of Saline Incursion and Estuarine Squeeze Sally Little, Jonathan P. Lewis, Helen Pietkiewicz and Krysia Mazik 8. Defining Habitat Losses due to Coastal Squeeze Nigel Pontee, James A. Tempest, Kenneth Pye and Simon J. Blott 9. Carbon Storage in UK Intertidal Environments William E.N. Austin, Craig Smeaton, Paulina Ruranska, David M. Paterson, Martin W. Skov, Cai J.T. Ladd, Lucy McMahon, Glenn M. Havelock, Roland Gehrels, Rob Mills, Natasha L.M. Barlow, Annette Burden, Laurence Jones and Angus Garbutt 10. Created Coastal Wetlands as Carbon Stores: Potential Challenges and Opportunities Hannah L. Mossman, Martin J.P. Sullivan, Rachel M. Dunk, Stuart Rae, Robert Sparkes, James Tempest and Nigel Pontee 11. Coastal Habitat Restoration, Invasive Species and Remote Monitoring Solutions Sophie Walker, Nathan Waltham, Christina Buelow and Jordan Iles 12. Multi-decadal Responses of Coastal Ecosystems to Climate Change, Pollution and Non-indigenous Species in the Western and Mid-English Channel Roger J.H. Herbert, Guillaume Corbeau, Laurent Godet, Nicolas Desroy, Nova Mieszkowska, Louise B. Firth, Alice E. Hall and Stephen J. Hawkins 13. Predicting the Effect of Environmental Change on Non-breeding Shorebirds with Individual-based Modelling John D. Goss-Custard and Richard A. Stillman 14. The Role of Estuaries and Coastal Areas as Nurseries for Fish: Concepts, Methodological Challenges and Future Perspectives Henrique Cabral 15. Marine Conservation: Smoke and Mirrors in the Coastal Zone John Humphreys 16. Lessons from the Past Half-Century: Challenges, Opportunities and Priorities for Future Estuarine, Coastal and Marine Management Michael Elliott and Alan Whitfield Conclusions Trajectories and Challenges in Estuarine and Coastal Science John Humphreys and Sally Little Index

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Book SynopsisPoole Harbour is protected and recognised, nationally and internationally, for its ecological importance. However, it has also been classified as polluted and eutrophic. These twin designations – protected yet polluted – exemplify the condition of many estuaries, making Poole Harbour an ideal subject for elucidating the circumstances behind this apparent paradox. The outcome of a conference entitled ‘Spotlight on Poole Harbour: Environment & Economics’ organised by the Poole Harbour Study Group, this book comprises four main parts. Part I, ‘Background’, provides a broad introduction to the harbour in terms of its pre-historical and historical significance for human communities and gives a conceptual overview of its modern character and uses. Part II, ‘Ecology’, contains chapters ranging from plankton to marine mammals. The subsequent parts focus on industries dependent on the biological and chemical ‘ecological services’ of the estuary: Part III, ‘Fisheries’, covers recreational and commercial fishing and aquaculture, examining economic value and key shellfish species. Part IV, ‘Water Quality’, addresses those industries that require the harbour to remediate various effluents, as well as some of the environmental consequences and noteworthy efforts to reduce such impacts. Part V, ‘Conclusion’, by the editors examines certain general shortcomings of environmental legislation and regulation manifest in the case of Poole Harbour. A central concern throughout is the question of sustainable development in coastal and marine contexts, making this wide-ranging study relevant well beyond the bounds of its primary geographical focus.Trade ReviewHarbour Ecology is a well-sourced collection of scientific papers...It balances much-needed facts and figures with charts and diagrams and is a good source of information for ecologists and naturalists alike. -- Neil Garrick Maidment, British Naturalists' AssociationThe editors are to be congratulated in bringing together an impressive set of papers in this very well-produced book. -- Mike Elliot, The Marine BiologistTable of ContentsContributors Preface Acknowledgements Disclaimer Poole Harbour Study Group 1 Introduction: Ecology and Economics in an Industrialised Harbour John Humphreys and Alice E. Hall Part I: Background 2 An Industrial History of Poole Harbour David A. Humphreys 3 The Archaeology of the Marine Shells of Poole Harbour Jessica Winder and Greg Campbell 4 Developing Conceptual Ecosystem Models for Poole Harbour Eleanor Rivers and Roger J.H. Herbert Part II: Ecology 5 The Planktonic Organisms of Poole Harbour Daniel J. Franklin and Andrew Powell 6 Intertidal and Lagoon Macrofauna and Flora of Poole Harbour Roger J.H. Herbert, Richard A. Stillman, Kathryn Ross, Ann Thornton, Alice E. Hall, Jessica Bone, Leo Clarke, Elena Cantarello and Philip Pickering 7 The Fishes of Poole Harbour Philip Pickering and Roger J.H. Herbert 8 Waterbirds of Poole Harbour: Figures and Trends Kathryn E. Ross, Katharine M. Bowgen, Niall H.K. Burton, Roger J.H. Herbert and Richard A. Stillman 9 An Overview of Seals in Poole Harbour Sarah Hodgson and Julie Hatcher 10 Holes Bay Nature Park: Ecology and Human Activity Emma Rance Part III: Fisheries 11 Fisheries of Poole Harbour Robert W. E. Clark 12 A Tale of Three Fisheries: The Value of the Small-scale Commercial Fishing Fleet, Aquaculture and the Recreational Charter Boat Fleet to the Local Economy of Poole Chris Williams and William Davies 13 The Manila Clam in Poole Harbour: A Journey to Sustainability Sarah Elizabeth Birchenough 14 Ecology and Exploitation of Poole Harbour Oysters John Humphreys Part IV: Water QualIty 15 Water Framework Directive Ecological Monitoring in Poole Harbour, 2007–2019 Suzy Witt 16 Wessex Water’s Environmental Improvement Work in the Poole Harbour Catchment during the Twenty-First Century, 2000–2019 Ruth Barden 17 Managing Poole Harbour Water Quality through a Catchment-based Approach Fiona Bowles 18 Using Drone Surveys to Assess Opportunistic Green Algae in Poole Harbour Andrew Harrison 19 Nuisance Macroalgae in Poole Harbour Suzy Witt 20 The Potential Economic Exploitation of Macroalgal Mats in Poole Harbour and Other Channel Estuarine Systems Sinead E. Morris, Gordon J. Watson, Sophie Richier, Iain D. Green, Annesia L. Lamb and Daniel J. Franklin Part V Conclusion 21 Conservation and Regulation in an Industrialised Estuary John Humphreys and Alice E. Hall Index

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Book SynopsisWhy are we as humans so attracted to water and to colorful reefs? Indeed, why are reefs so dazzling? How did cleaning station symbiosis evolve? How come there are so many extraordinary defense mechanisms among reef animals? Do the denizens of reefs have consciousness? How did warning coloration evolve? In what ways do fundamental mathematical rules manifest in coral reefs? For answers to these questions and many more, take a dive into Reflections Underwater. Coral reefs are one of the world's great natural wonders: endlessly surprising and mesmerizing kaleidoscopic fractals of color and life. But they are also under serious threat from the effects of climate change and development. Reflections Underwater is a unique, illuminating book that explores a stunning variety of topics and concepts relating to coral reefs. Adopting a holistic, multidisciplinary perspective that weaves together scientific and humanistic ideas, including psychology, evolution, zoology, philosophy, mathematics, art, physics, and more, this book offers a compelling angle on these remarkable and fragile habitats. Meticulously researched and elegantly argued, it is illustrated throughout with exquisite photographs gleaned from the author's many marine adventures.Trade ReviewThis is a book that you should read if you want to be amazed anew at the richness of the coral reef, to discover new ways to think of it, to see it as you probably have never seen it before...this book’s ability to describe the science underlying the reef in a humanistic way is refreshing and intriguing. -- Prof. David Fortus (PhD), Weizmann Institute of ScienceWhether you are an expert in some field of marine science, a well-traveled and experienced diver who knows a lot about this environment, or a “newbie” interested in the underwater world, I am sure this book introduced you to some new and fascinating ideas and phenomena. -- Tom Shlesinger (PhD), Marine Ecologist, Florida Institute of TechnologyDegany’s is a fascinating approach... Someone who can take a subject and come at it from so many different angles and offer so much insight without ever telling the reader, or student, what to think, is rare. -- Caitlin Richards, Caribbean CompassThe polymath background of Oded Degany in physics and the philosophy of biology, in diving and photography and a career in corporate management shines through this excellent book... All marine biologists will get something from this book and, although it is not a textbook, there is certainly enough to stimulate zoologists and make all think out of the box. -- Mike Elliot, The Marine BiologistTable of ContentsForeword by Professor David Fortus Acknowledgments Prologue 1. The Uniqueness of the Diving Experience 2. Coral Reefs – A Holistic View 3. The Reef Kaleidoscopic View – Why Are Coral Reefs So Colorful? 4. Illumination, Disguise and Vision Mechanisms in Coral Reefs 5. Mutual Aid – Coral Reefs as a Symbiotic Society 6. Nature, Red in Tooth and Claw – Defense and Preying Mechanisms 7. Reproduction – The Wild Side of Sex in Coral Reefs 8. Evolutionary Themes Epilogue Afterword by Dr. Tom Shlesinger Concise Glossary Bibliography Figure Credits Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisThe Top 200+ species of marine invertebrates, plants, mammals and reptiles of the Maldives in a handy fold-out waterproof guide. A companion guide to the book Marine Life of the Maldives. Includes a silhouette of each animal for easy identification, details including depth range, size, distribution, IUCN Red List status, page reference to the book and a check box for recording species. A handy laminated fold-out reference guide of the same kind as the Maldives Field Fish Guide "Top 200+".

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1992, this guide has been significantly expanded in a new 3rd edition. The popular, user-friendly field guide, covering all major groups of marine invertebrates encountered by divers on coral reefs and adjacent habitats, has grown to include 900 species beautifully documented with more than 1200 underwater photographs -- nearly doubling the total in the previous editions. Les Wilk has joined Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach authoring the comprehensive new edition.

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Book SynopsisThe first of three parts comprising Volume 1, this book covers the orders Nemaliales and Gigartinales. A general introduction to the Rhodophyta deals with such topics as morphology, reproduction and economic utilization. Each species is then described and illustrated and notes on the ecology and distribution are given. Keys to aid identification are also included. The synthesis of many years' research carried out by members of the British Phycological Society in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, London, this series of books covers all the British and the majority of northern Atlantic seaweeds. Welcome reissue of an important book (978 0 113 10000 2) first published in 1977 and long out of print.

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Book SynopsisThis book covers the species att ributed to the orders Cryptonemiales, Palmariales and Rhodymeniales. Each species description incorporates notes on ecology and distribution and is supported by one or more line illustrations. Keys to aid identification are also included. This is a reprint edition of 0-565-00871-4.

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Book SynopsisThis volume is written by leading authorities in red algae. All subfamilies, genera and species are described, notes on ecology and distribution given, and each named species is illustrated by one or more half-tones or line drawings showing distinctive features. User-friendly keys are provided to enable identifi cation of genera and species. Special features of this volume are the concise but comprehensive and practical introduction and a complete re-evaluation of British Isles taxa in consultation with other international specialists. In addition, one new species and three new combinations are proposed. This is a reprint edition of 0-11-310016-7 published in 1984.

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Book SynopsisThis volume covers the species attributed to the class Fucophyceae. Each species description incorporates notes on ecology and distribution and many are supported by line illustrations. This is a reprint edition of 0-565-00992-3 published in 1987.

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Book SynopsisThe snails found living on rocky sea shores are among the most rewarding invertebrate animals to study. Species such as dog-whelks, topshells and winkles are easy to find, capture, identify, measure and mark. This book provides a key to common species, background ecology, an overview of rocky shore habitats and the techniques required for anyone to study this fascinating and accessible fauna.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent addition to an excellent series of naturalists’ handbooks and should be part of the equipment for any field trip to the seashore. -- Ian Lancaster * SSR *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Introduction 2. The biology of marine snails 3. Limpets 4. Common topshells 5. Dog-whelks 6. Winkles 7. Identification Key to the larger species of marine snails that live on rocky shores around the British Isles 8. The rocky shore environment 9. Techniques and approaches to original work 10. References and further reading 11. Index 12. Pictorial key

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Book SynopsisMarine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook is the ultimate instruction manual for mitigation measures to minimise man-made acoustical and physical disturbances to marine mammals from industrial and defence activities. Based on more than two decades of offshore experience, and a decade of supplying MMO and PAM services (commercial and scientific), the Handbook is a long-overdue reference guide that seeks to improve standards worldwide for marine operations such as seismic and drilling exploration, wind farm and civil engineering piling, dredging, trenching, rock-dumping, hydrographical surveys, and military/defence exercises. By popular request, this manual will also form an accompaniment to MMO and PAM courses. The Handbook consolidates all aspects of this discipline into one easily accessible resource, to educate all stakeholders (e.g. MMOs, PAM operators, suppliers, recruitment agencies, clients, contractors, regulators, NGOs, consultants, scientists, academia and media), regardless of experience. Topics include worldwide legislation, compliance, anthropogenic noise sources and potential effects, training, offshore life, visual and acoustic monitoring (theory and practice), marine mammal distribution, hearing and vocalisations, and report writing. Advice is provided on implementing sensible and practical mitigation techniques, appropriate technologies, data collection, client and regulator liaison, and project kick-off meetings. "The Handbook is an indispensable How To guide to the growing and increasingly important occupation of marine mammal monitoring, written with clarity and humor by scientists who have extensive experience in this field." —Dr Phillip J. Clapham, world-renowned cetologist and Director of the Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle.Trade ReviewMost of the information required for MMO and PAM work is distilled into this handbook. It is highly recommended as a training aid for new workers, and as a detailed reference for the experienced. It may also be of interest to offshore crew, environmental consultants, and scientists interested in cetacean acoustics and ocean noise. At present there are no similar handbooks, making this the current “bible” for the industry. -- John R. Gibbens * Marine Mammal Science *“...an indispensable How To guide to the growing and increasingly important occupation of marine mammal monitoring, written with clarity and humor by scientists who have extensive experience in this field.” -- Phil Clapham, Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program, Marine Mammal LaboratoryTable of ContentsPreface 1. Introduction 2. Mitigation Measures 3. Sources of Anthropogenic Noise 4. Training 5. Offshore Life 6. MMO Theory and Practice 7. PAM Theory 8. Marine Mammal Vocalisations 9. PAM Practice 10. Report Writing Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThis volume is written by leading authorities in red algae. All subfamilies, genera and species are described, notes on ecology and distribution given, and each named species is illustrated by one or more half-tones or line drawings showing distinctive features. User-friendly keys are provided to enable identifi cation of genera and species. Special features of this volume are the concise but comprehensive and practical introduction and a complete re-evaluation of British Isles taxa in consultation with other international specialists. This is a reprint edition of ISBN 1898298815 published in 1993.

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Book SynopsisThis volume covers the species attributed to the class Chlorophyta (the green seaweeds). Each species description incorporates notes on ecology and distribution and many are supported by line illustrations. This is a reprint edition of ISBN 1898298858 published in 1991.

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Book SynopsisThis volume explores the yellow-brown seaweed species attributed to the class Tribophyceae. The description of each species incorporates notes on ecology and distribution and many are supported by line illustrations. This is a reprint edition of ISBN 0113100043 published in 1987.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION WINNER OF THE NIB LITERARY AWARD FINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE FOR NONFICTION HIGHLY COMMENDED IN THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR WRITING ON GLOBAL CONSERVATION A SUNDAY INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘There is a kind of hauntedness in wild animals today: a spectre related to environmental change … Our fear is that the unseen spirits that move in them are ours. Once more, animals are a moral force.’ When Rebecca Giggs encountered a humpback whale stranded on her local beach in Australia, she began to wonder how the lives of whales might shed light on the condition of our seas. How do whales experience environmental change? Has our connection to these fabled animals been transformed by technology? What future awaits us, and them? And what does it mean to write about nature in the midst of an ecological crisis? In Fathoms: the world in the whale, Giggs blends natural history, philosophy, and science to explore these questions with clarity and hope. In lively, inventive prose, she introduces us to whales so rare they have never been named; she tells us of the astonishing variety found in whale sounds, and of whale ‘pop’ songs that sweep across hemispheres. She takes us into the deeps to discover that one whale’s death can spark a great flourishing of creatures. We travel to Japan to board whaling ships, examine the uncanny charisma of these magnificent mammals, and confront the plastic pollution now pervading their underwater environment. In the spirit of Rachel Carson and John Berger, Fathoms is a work of profound insight and wonder. It marks the arrival of an essential new voice in narrative nonfiction and provides us with a powerful, surprising, and compelling view of some of the most urgent issues of our time.Trade Review‘Fathoms is perhaps the finest book written about whales since Moby Dick was published 170 years ago. It’s also one of the best accounts I’ve ever read of the interaction, intended and unintended, between humans and other species — a work of genuinely literary imagination.’ -- Verlyn Klinkenborg * New York Review of Books *‘Fathoms is brilliantly full of wonder.’ * The Economist *‘Masterly.’ * The New Yorker *‘Giggs’s style is all the more impactful for its sparseness … Her journey encompasses everything from whale-hunting ships in Japan to Loch Ness monster conspiracy theories in Scotland, with all of the disparate subjects deftly woven together by clipped, polished prose.’ -- Caroline Crampton * The Mail on Sunday *‘With distinctive prose, as philosophical as it is scientific, this is a challenging and illuminating portrait of the oceans’ great cetaceans and what they mean to people.’ -- Helen Scales * BBC Wildlife Magazine *‘Some of the most alive, inventive writing on the planet is nature writing, and Giggs’ Fathoms is glorious proof. Ostentatious, mythic and strange, this is the kind of book that swallows you whole. Entirely fitting for its subject.’ -- Beejay Silcox * The Guardian *‘Beautiful and insightful.’ -- Pádraic Fogarty * Sunday Independent *‘As well as being dazzlingly well researched and conveyed, the language in Fathoms is wonderful in that it never becomes sentimental and yet is thoroughly moving. Combining reportage, cultural criticism and poem as a call to action in the spirit of Rachel Carson, Giggs is an assured new voice in narrative nonfiction … Gloriously, she presents whales as poets … We need to be moved – therein the particular power of literature to expand the parameters of our compassion … More prescient for its time than the author could have imagined.’ -- Abi Andrews * The Irish Times *‘Fathoms took my breath away. Every page is suffused with magic and meaning. Humanity’s relationship with nature has never been more important or vulnerable, and we are truly fortunate that at such a pivotal moment, a writer of Rebecca Giggs’s calibre is here to capture every beautiful detail, every aching nuance. She is in a league of her own.’ -- Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes‘Fathoms is a magnificent book, as grand and profound in its sweep as the whale itself. Rebecca Giggs is a brilliant writer - her prose packed with wonders and glittering with ideas.’ -- Philip Marsden, author of The Summer Isles‘Fathoms reads like a poem. Its virtuoso thinking is a revelation. I can’t think of many books in which love for the world and uncompromising, ever-deepening rigour come together in this way. Time slows down. This book makes a permanent dent in the reader.’ -- Maria Tumarkin, author of Axiomatic‘Fathoms is a marvel: a glorious, prismatic, deeply affecting hymn to the beauty, majesty, and extremity of whales and the human imagining of them.’ -- James Bradley, author of Clade‘[A] lyrical, wide-ranging meditation on whales and their complex relationship with humanity … Meticulously researched and full of fascinating information.’ -- Books+Publishing‘In Fathoms, Rebecca Giggs rips the metaphors off whales and brings us closer than we can usually get to the creatures themselves. Along the way, she shows us how intimately whales are shaping our lives, how they change air quality, and crime, and even our conception of time. I can't stop thinking about the connections she has unearthed, how a whale is connected to a meteor, a mother's breast, a landfill. Under the spell of her deliciously evocative prose, you get the sense that you are truly, finally, glimpsing a whale in full glory. Like the busks she writes about—tiny missives carved into whalebone corsets by sailors—this book leaves an imprint.’ -- Lulu Miller, author of Why Fish Don’t Exist and co-founder of NPR’s Invisibilia‘Seafaring scrutiny of whales, their oceanic environment, and the dangers to their survival … Giggs presents … scholarship in crisp, creatively written chapters addressing the many layers of the whale population’s unique physiology and evolutionary history, sociality, above-water balletic athleticism, and enigmatic ‘biophony’ of their vocalisations. Most importantly, she analyses how their behaviour can be predictive for the Earth’s future … Giggs reiterates that the whale and its life, legacy, and precarious environmental state are reflective of the greater issues the Earth faces, from ecological upheaval to overconsumption. Whether describing the majesty of the blue whale or the human assault on sea ecology due to paper and plastic pollution, the author’s prose is poetic, beautifully smooth, urgently readable, and eloquently informative. Her passion for whales leaps off the page, urging readers to care and—even more so—become involved in their protection and preservation. Throughout the book, the author’s debut, she brilliantly exposes ‘how regular human life seeped into the habitats of wildlife, and how wildlife returned back to us, the evidence of our obliviousness.’ Refreshingly, she also reveals glimmers of hope regarding what whales can teach the human race about our capacity to ecologically coexist with the natural world. A thoughtful, ambitiously crafted appeal for the preservation of marine mammals.’ STARRED REVIEW * Kirkus Reviews *‘Astonishing ... utterly original ... Fathomsis an attempt to interpret our contemporary moment – and in particular our relationship with the non-human world – through the glistening figure of the whale in all its myriad aspects ... The language of Fathoms has a remarkable, almost gothic intensity. The style is vivid and estranging and luridly compelling, full of weird lights and unexpected textures ... A remarkable literary event because it is a new and hugely ambitious kind of nature writing, verging on poetry. It is itself a whale cure, thrusting us into the dark intestine of the whale, among the indigestible plastics and other pollutants, the better to hear the conscience of tomorrow.’ -- Andrew Fuhrmann * The Monthly *‘In Fathoms, Rebecca Giggs unravels a powerful nonfiction narrative, masterfully blending history, philosophy and science.’ -- Dan Shaw * Happy Magazine *‘This book is nothing less than a small masterpiece. … Rebecca Giggs’ Fathoms – the world in the whale is a remarkable meditation on, nominally, whales, but through them the delicacy and intricacy of human relationships with the environment, and the history and legacy of our intimate and devastating impact upon ecosystems … The book is a striking piece of narrative nonfiction, philosophical and personal at once wrestling with liminal vulnerabilities, fantasies, conceits and projections, and it deserves global attention.’ 4.5 STARS -- Anna Westbrook * ArtsHub *‘Fathoms is horrific, poetic and profound; a morbid dirge shot through with celestial light. As well as being an extensively researched and deeply considered study, the book is also a wunderkammer of tales that illustrate the hot mess of human aggression, obliviousness and folly … Fathoms is a vast book, the scale of which brings to mind the blue whale, anatomically mysterious and the largest creature to have lived. Giggs weaves together cosmological phenomena with their deep-sea reverberations to give us a book that feels universal.’ -- Justine Hyde * The Saturday Paper *‘With remarkable detective work, author Rebecca Giggs explores the habitats and migratory patterns of whales to reveal a great deal about them, and even more about us. It is a hauntingly beautiful examination of the moral force of animals, offering hope as well as despair.’ -- Jeff Maynard * Herald Sun *‘A work of bright and careful genius. Equal parts Rebecca Solnit and Annie Dillard, Giggs masterfully combines lush prose with conscientious history and boots-on-the-beach reporting. With Giggs leading us gently by the hand we dive down, and down, and down, into the dark core of the whale, which, she convincingly reveals, is also the guts of the world.’ -- Robert Moor, New York Times bestselling author of On Trails: an exploration'An incredibly wonderful book ... [Giggs] is a fabulous writer' -- Brian Eno‘Rebecca Giggs’ Fathoms is a triumph, a deliciously rich work of art that, as if by magic, combines exquisite prose that floats off the page and into your heart with scientific accuracy and epic scope. This is by far the best book about whales I have ever read. What an achievement!’ -- Wendy Williams, author of The Language of Butterflies and New York Times bestseller The Horse: the epic history of our noble companion‘One of the most beautifully written nonfiction books I have read in a long time. It's so hard to do justice to the immense importance of whales and the lessons they have for us all. Rebecca Giggs does an extraordinary job of bringing together the science, the history, and the brilliance and fragility of whales.’ -- Christine Kenneally, author of The Invisible History of the Human Race‘Fathoms is a work of profound insight and wonder.’ * X-Press Magazine *‘The book is a masterpiece. I am astonished that it is Giggs’s first, for it reads like the work of a far more experienced author ... Giggs’s exquisite prose is so striking as to be almost poetic, pulling the reader up constantly, either to savour a particularly apposite phrase, or to ponder a deep, unexpected connection. If a whale warrants a pause, then Fathoms warrants many.’ -- Tim Flannery * The Australian *‘Lyrical, meditative and deeply researched, this gorgeous book by WA writer Rebecca Giggs is one to linger over.’ * The Weekend West *‘This is a heavy read, but a fascinating and vital one.’ -- Ellen Cregan * Kill Your Darlings *‘Fathoms is beautifully written, always aiming for the bigger picture: what it means to live in the world; and what it means to be enthralled by the world we live in and destroying it … Fathoms is a glorious, beautiful and deeply important book.’ -- Magdalena Ball * Compulsive Reader *‘Truly remarkable … Each page is full of wonder and revelation.’ -- Grey Kelly * Talking Heads Magazine *‘This is an unforgettable, meticulously researched work that examines the ways that we’re all connected — with whales, with the, environment and each other.’ -- Eliza Henry-Jones * Organic Gardener Magazine *‘Meticulous research and stunning prose … unique, introspective and poetic.’ -- Zoya Patel * Canberra Times *‘[A] moving homage to the whale … A book that begins with obsequies for a whale ends by enlarging our knowledge of, and sense of wonder about, this magnificent species. It is non-fiction told with the vivacity and moral authority that was once reserved for fiction.’ * Australian Financial Review *‘Giggs’ meticulous research is itself awesome. Every page has its breathtaking revelations … For all this wondrous detail, the whale remains a lens through which to consider humanity’s relationship with the environment … Fathoms’ exhilarating poetic language is richly allusive and orchestrated … this marvellous work of haunted wonder ends with a fiercely unabashed vision of humanity moved 'from indecision to action', for whales, for love, for the world.’ -- Felicity Plunkett * Sydney Morning Herald *‘[A] delving, haunted and poetic debut. Giggs is worth reading for her spotlight observations and lyricism alone, but she also has an important message to deliver … [S]he uses whales as invitations to consider everything else: the selfie-isation of environmentalism, the inherent worth of parasites, Jungian psychoanalysis, solar storms, whale songs records going multiplatinum and so much more. In the cascade of mini-essays that results, Giggs comes off as much as a cultural critic as a naturalist.’ -- Doug Bock Clark * The New York Times Book Review *‘There is much to marvel at here … Deeply researched and deeply felt, Giggs’ intricate investigation, beautifully revelatory and haunting, urges us to save the whales once again, and the oceans, and ourselves.’ STARRED REVIEW * Booklist *‘In the whale, Giggs truly does find the world. She finds clues that unlock how humans have engaged nature — tales of greed, aggression, wonder, desperation, longing, nostalgia, love, curiosity and obsession. Her prose is luminous … tracing humankind’s continuing intersection with these alluring creatures, Giggs ultimately uncovers seeds of hope and, planting them in her fertile mind, cultivates a lush landscape that offers remarkable views of nature, humanity and how we might find a way forward together.’ STARRED REVIEW * BookPage *‘Fathoms immediately earns its place in the pantheon of classics of the new golden age of environmental writing.’ -- Stephen Sparks * Literary Hub *‘A profound meditation … Giggs explores how whales have permeated our lives and the many ways we have invaded and transformed theirs. Each chapter orbits a different aspect of this long and fraught relationship — commodification, pollution, voyeurism, adoration, mythology — swerving wherever Giggs’s extensive research and fervent curiosity take her … Giggs’s prose is fluid, sensuous, and lyrical. She has a poet’s gift for startling and original imagery … The lushness of her sentences and the intensity of her vision inspire frequent rereading — not for clarity, but for sheer pleasure and depth of meaning.’ -- Ferris Jabr * Los Angeles Review of Books *‘[W]idens the aperture of our attention with a literary style so stunning that the reader may forget to blink ... In a story that extends across several continents, Ms. Giggs marshals lapidary language to give the crisis a compelling voice. Her prose, like the oceans in which her subjects roam, is immersive; her sentences submerge us in a sea of sensations … [M]ore descriptive than prescriptive concerning the plight of whales and, by implication, the health of the Earth. But as with George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant and E.B. White’s Death of a Pig, Ms. Giggs, tending the final hours of a humpback on an Australian beach, reminds us that paying attention to the close of another creature’s life can be its own form of moral instruction.’ -- Danny Heitman * The Wall Street Journal *‘Immersive … Illustrating the interconnectedness of all life and the ways man's depredations travel from the smallest creatures to this largest of Earth's animals … In lyrical language, Giggs leads readers on a journey through underwater cultures and the place of whales in the chain of life. Recommended for readers interested in nature, ecology, and environmentalism.’ -- Caren Nichter * Library Journal *‘A searching debut … Giggs displays a keen awareness of what it means to write about a creature whose future is just as uncertain as our own.’ * The Nation *‘Glorious and astounding.’ -- Robbie Arnott‘By looking at the largest of our mammalian cousins Rebecca Giggs returns us to ourselves. This vital and urgent book awakens our wonder and our fear. In dense language, rich in poetry and science, it fathoms a deep empathy for the living world.’ -- Antony Gormley‘Fathoms is the result of years of research and contemplation: a cultural, historical and ecological exploration of whales and their place in human life and thought … It is simply one of the most miraculous and illuminating accounts of animality I’ve come across. Read it, read the whole magnificent tome: you’ll leave it filled with renewed awe for cetacean existence.’ -- Geordie Williamson * The Australian *‘A poetic and surprisingly wide-ranging blend of natural history, science and philosophy.’ -- Gemma Nisbet * The Weekend West Australian *‘This remarkable study of whales examines much more than the magnificent creatures of the deep. Through brilliant detective work, Giggs explores the habitats and migratory patterns of whales to reveal a great deal about them, and even more about the human impact on the oceans.’ * The Chronicle *‘Wonder pours out of every page of this gorgeously written and daringly imagined book.’ -- Laura Miller * Slate *‘Extraordinary.’ -- Hannah James * Australian Geographic *‘A book like this shows the best of what reflective, creative non-fiction can do.’ -- Kate Evans * ABC News *‘Rebecca Giggs’ enthralling Fathoms: the world in the whale presents whales as immense, enigmatic, intelligent and majestic sea creatures, but also vividly describes the intricate ecosystem of the vast oceans in which they live and die. Drawing from science, history, literature, art and mythology, Fathoms is both epic in scale and rich in detail about the life cycle of whales, their behaviours and sociality.’ -- Donna Lee Brien * The Conversation *‘Like fine tapestry, strands unite into a coherent work of great beauty. Yes, this is a book about what whales mean to us, but it’s also about how to interweave and admire cultural and biological stories, metaphors, and meanings.’ -- David George Haskell * Geographical Magazine *‘Lyrical … Facts like these are eye-opening. But the book shines most brightly in its poetry … Giggs’s writing has an old-fashioned lushness and elaborateness of thought … its finest passages — and they are many — awaken a sense of wonder. That other lives as marvellous and mysterious as these still exist is, for the moment at least, a reason to celebrate.’ -- Richard Schiffman * The Washington Post *‘Giggs' work [Fathoms] … on whales, climate change and pollution has been one of the most affecting [books] I've read in a while.’ -- Sophie Overett * The Courier-Mail *‘It’s rare for whales to get what they deserve from our species, but Giggs’ fascinating and poetic natural history starts to pay back a portion of an impossible debt.’ -- Christopher J. Preston * Geographical Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe first text to take a truly inter-disciplinary approach to critically examining the impacts of tourism on marine environments and coastal regions, focusing on the negative environmental impacts but also looking at the social and economic context of marine tourism and coastal zone management. The book sets tourism against the background of the crisis facing our oceans due to climate change and the effects of global warming. Tourism adds another layer of challenges for our marine environment, and its rapid growth globally means that these challenges have grown dramatically in recent years. We have seen a number of trends in the relationship between tourism and our oceans which pose a threat to the future of the marine environment and coastal communities. The Impact of Tourism on the Marine Environment looks at these trends in detail and tackles issues such as: • A critical evaluation of the cruise sector in terms of its impacts on the marine environment and the coastal destinations visited by cruise ships. • Marine wildlife watching and whether it is the enemy of conservation or its ally • The overall impact of tourism on waste, litter and plastics in the oceans. • The two-way relationship between climate change and global warming and marine environments and coastal tourist destinations • The effects of leisure activities such as diving and sea angling on the marine environment including coral reefs • The consumption of marine resources to meet tourist demand for seafood and souvenirs that deplete ocean resources • Natural and man-made disasters which have their origins in the oceans but have an impact on coastal tourist destinations • The challenges involved in the planning and management of tourism in marine environments and the impacts of the construction of new resorts and tourism infrastructure. • The debate over whether there is a need for regulation to control the impacts of tourism on our oceans or whether industry self-regulation is the best approach to take The book includes nearly forty mini-case studies from around the world which illustrate issues raised in the text. There are also two important ‘opinion pieces’ from Professor Harold Goodwin and Professor Michael Hall. A must-have text for students, researchers and practitioners looking at issues of sustainable tourism, tourism planning, environmental management, geography, marine conservation and corporate social responsibility. Part of the Responsible Tourism Series edited by Harold Goodwin, Director of Responsible Tourism, Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University and John Swarbrooke, Associate Dean-International, Plymouth Global, Plymouth University, UK Professor John Swarbrooke is Associate Dean - International, at the University of Plymouth, UK.Table of ContentsCh 1 Introduction – ‘All At Sea!’; Ch 2 The Marine Environment; Opinion Piece: Marine Litter and Waste and Tourism (Professor C. Michael Hall); Ch 3 The Cruise Industry; Opinion Piece: Responsible Tourism and the Cruise Industry (Professor Harold Goodwin); Ch 4 Wildlife–Watching in Marine Environments; Ch 5 Leisure Activities in Marine Environments; Ch 6 Coastal Tourism and the Ocean Fringe; Ch 7 The Consumption of Marine Resources by Tourists; Ch 8 Oceans, Natural Disasters and Tourism; Ch 9 The Tourism Industry and the Marine Environment; Ch 10 Key Challenges in the Planning and Management of Tourism in Marine Environments; Ch 11 Case Studies; Ch 12 Conclusions and the Future; Postscript: The COVID-19 Pandemic; Bibliography and Further Reading; Index

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Book SynopsisThe first text to take a truly inter-disciplinary approach to critically examining the impacts of tourism on marine environments and coastal regions, focusing on the negative environmental impacts but also looking at the social and economic context of marine tourism and coastal zone management. The book sets tourism against the background of the crisis facing our oceans due to climate change and the effects of global warming. Tourism adds another layer of challenges for our marine environment, and its rapid growth globally means that these challenges have grown dramatically in recent years. We have seen a number of trends in the relationship between tourism and our oceans which pose a threat to the future of the marine environment and coastal communities. The Impact of Tourism on the Marine Environment looks at these trends in detail and tackles issues such as: • A critical evaluation of the cruise sector in terms of its impacts on the marine environment and the coastal destinations visited by cruise ships. • Marine wildlife watching and whether it is the enemy of conservation or its ally • The overall impact of tourism on waste, litter and plastics in the oceans. • The two-way relationship between climate change and global warming and marine environments and coastal tourist destinations • The effects of leisure activities such as diving and sea angling on the marine environment including coral reefs • The consumption of marine resources to meet tourist demand for seafood and souvenirs that deplete ocean resources • Natural and man-made disasters which have their origins in the oceans but have an impact on coastal tourist destinations • The challenges involved in the planning and management of tourism in marine environments and the impacts of the construction of new resorts and tourism infrastructure. • The debate over whether there is a need for regulation to control the impacts of tourism on our oceans or whether industry self-regulation is the best approach to take The book includes nearly forty mini-case studies from around the world which illustrate issues raised in the text. There are also two important ‘opinion pieces’ from Professor Harold Goodwin and Professor Michael Hall. A must-have text for students, researchers and practitioners looking at issues of sustainable tourism, tourism planning, environmental management, geography, marine conservation and corporate social responsibility. Part of the Responsible Tourism Series edited by Harold Goodwin, Director of Responsible Tourism, Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University and John Swarbrooke, Associate Dean-International, Plymouth Global, Plymouth University, UK Professor John Swarbrooke is Associate Dean - International, at the University of Plymouth, UK.Table of ContentsCh 1 Introduction – ‘All At Sea!’; Ch 2 The Marine Environment; Opinion Piece: Marine Litter and Waste and Tourism (Professor C. Michael Hall); Ch 3 The Cruise Industry; Opinion Piece: Responsible Tourism and the Cruise Industry (Professor Harold Goodwin); Ch 4 Wildlife–Watching in Marine Environments; Ch 5 Leisure Activities in Marine Environments; Ch 6 Coastal Tourism and the Ocean Fringe; Ch 7 The Consumption of Marine Resources by Tourists; Ch 8 Oceans, Natural Disasters and Tourism; Ch 9 The Tourism Industry and the Marine Environment; Ch 10 Key Challenges in the Planning and Management of Tourism in Marine Environments; Ch 11 Case Studies; Ch 12 Conclusions and the Future; Postscript: The COVID-19 Pandemic; Bibliography and Further Reading; Index

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