Fionnáin reviewed High Seas by Olive Heffernan
Deep and Broad Research
4 stars
Marine biologist and writer Olive Heffernan has written and edited for Nature Magazine for the past 20-odd years. During that time, she quietly and confidently researched the area of ocean known legally as the 'high seas'. This area is the majority of all ocean and sea, and constitutes all areas outside of the jurisdiction of any one nation. This book presents chapters about different legal, environmental and political challenges of managing and preserving the high seas.
With chapters covering topics such as fishing, iceberg harvesting, disposal of space junk, and deep sea mining, Heffernan is deft and careful in her presentation of information. Her research is thorough, and she has interviewed some key players in all of these areas and more. The book is well written and never over-technical, keeping a good pace throughout. It is perfect popular science, keeping that balance and resulting in a publication that is …
Marine biologist and writer Olive Heffernan has written and edited for Nature Magazine for the past 20-odd years. During that time, she quietly and confidently researched the area of ocean known legally as the 'high seas'. This area is the majority of all ocean and sea, and constitutes all areas outside of the jurisdiction of any one nation. This book presents chapters about different legal, environmental and political challenges of managing and preserving the high seas.
With chapters covering topics such as fishing, iceberg harvesting, disposal of space junk, and deep sea mining, Heffernan is deft and careful in her presentation of information. Her research is thorough, and she has interviewed some key players in all of these areas and more. The book is well written and never over-technical, keeping a good pace throughout. It is perfect popular science, keeping that balance and resulting in a publication that is topical and prescient.