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What the Wild Sea Can Be
What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the Worlds Ocean | Helen Scales
14 posts | 8 read | 1 reading | 11 to read
The acclaimed marine biologist and author of The Brilliant Abyss examines the existential threats the worlds ocean will face in the coming decades and offers cautious optimism for much of the abundant life within in No matter where we live, we are all ocean people, Helen Scales emphatically observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales links past to present to show how the prehistoric ocean ecology was already working in ways similar to the ocean of today. In elegant, evocative prose, she takes readers into the realms of animals that epitomize todays increasingly challenging conditions. Ocean life everywhere is on the move as seas warm, and warm waters are an existential threat to emperor penguins, whose mating grounds in Antarctica are collapsing. Shark populationscritical to balanced ecosystemshave shrunk by 71 per cent since the 1970s, largely the result of massive and oft-unregulated industrial fishing. Orcasthe apex predatorshave also drastically declined, victims of toxic chemicals and plastics with long half-lives that disrupt the immune system and the ability to breed. Yet despite these threats, many hopeful signs remain. Increasing numbers of no-fish zones around the world are restoring once-diminishing populations. Amazing seagrass meadows and giant kelp forests rivaling those on land are being regenerated and expanded. They may be our best defense against the storm surges caused by global warming, while efforts to reengineer coral reefs for a warmer world are growing. Offering innovative ideas for protecting coastlines and cleaning the toxic seas, Scales insists we need more ethical and sustainable fisheries and must prevent the other existential threat of deep-sea mining, which could significantly alter life on earth. Inspiring us all to maintain a sense of awe and wonder at the majesty beneath the waves, she urges us to fight for the better future that still exists for the Anthropocene ocean.
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jenniferw88
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Oh no. Everyone loves this and I am struggling. This is taking me back to college where to get my chem degree I had to take some geology and biology classes and was bored outta my mind. I do love that she is using the Māori word Aotearoa for what we call New Zealand.
I hope I can get more interested in this as we go along but 2 chapters in and so far, not so good

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squirrelbrain
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Book 11 from the #wpnf25 longlist.

All about what damage humankind is doing to the oceans, and thus to global ecological structures, this was alternately depressing and slightly hopeful.

This is one occasion where the author reading their own book really worked - you could hear her passion and enthusiasm shining through.

TrishB I‘ve seen her talk on campus! 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures I think this is going to be my next on the NF list. It has been sitting on my table for weeks now. 2w
youneverarrived Book 11 🤩 have you got any stand outs? 2w
squirrelbrain @youneverarrived - my favourites so far have been Story of a Heart (I know you don‘t want to read that) and Sister in Law, followed by Neneh Cherry. 2w
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Hooked_on_books
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I‘ve read Scales before and liked her, so I was happy to see this in the #WPNF25 list. It shows the havoc we have and continue to wreak upon the oceans, but also gives a little hope for some of the things we‘re doing that‘s helping to slow and fix the damage. Excellent read.

squirrelbrain I‘m finding this really interesting! 3w
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youneverarrived
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I can‘t imagine I‘d pick this up if not for the women‘s prize but I really liked it! I learned a lot about ocean life (past & present), how much effects ocean life like climate change and overfishing and how all of those things have an effect on the way ocean life thrives (or doesn‘t). The bit about emperor penguins though 😢 it‘s very accessible and she writes with hope but also a real sense of urgency. It will stick with me. #wpnf25

squirrelbrain I‘ve got this from the library but found it on audio too yesterday so listened to some this morning. It‘s more accessible than I expected. 3w
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I hope you enjoy it too. The accessibility of it definitely made it more interesting to read. 3w
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AllDebooks
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#NaturaLitsy January's #buddyread discussion thread.

🌊 Did you enjoy the author's style?
🌊 What stood out for you?
🌊 Did you find the tone optimistic about the future?

All are welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist list.

🦉🐦‍⬛🦃Next up - Ten birds that changed the world. https://litsy.com/p/NGNZWXBVZllk

See All 7 Comments
Bookwormjillk I enjoyed this book a lot. I‘m not sure I found it hopeful. More like there is promise of hope if we do the right thing. I thought the audiobook was very well done. You could hear the emotions in the author‘s voice. 2mo
Roary47 I really enjoyed the book also. I show a video to my classes every year called The Plastic Ocean and it has the same tone, and much of the same information. It is nice to see the change that happens to my students after they realize how much just plastic is causing on aquatic ecosystems. I think a change for the better is the aim by the tone they have. I also listened to the audio which was really nicely done @Bookwormjillk 2mo
TheBookHippie @Bookwormjillk I felt this way too. I love the ocean so much and I fear for it. The book is very well written and I think it‘s a must read. Done very well. I had a library book and I had to wait for it so that‘s encouraging. 2mo
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Bookwormjillk
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Great pick for #Naturalitsy @AllDebooks

I loved this well researched audiobook. The author read it herself and you can hear the emotion in her voice when she talks about the ocean. I grew up near the coast in Massachusetts and this made me so homesick. Must get back to see the ocean soon.

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kspenmoll
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I am finally reading this book-I grew up going to the Connecticut shores in summer like my Dad before me, while my mom was born at the shore in Saybrook CT- then we discovered Cape Cod when I was 11 & never went back-I feel strongly, almost genetically, that I am the sea & the sea is in me- it is the place where I feel totally connected & at peace with the world. #naturalitsy

TheBookHippie The ocean is my soul. 2mo
julieclair I feel exactly the same! 2mo
Texreader Awww I love this. I‘m originally from Austin Texas and now live in San Antonio so always surrounded by land. It‘s hard to imagine the passion you feel. But I appreciate it as well as a beautiful view of the ocean. I remember the times I saw the Atlantic and then the Pacific for the first time. 2mo
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AnnCrystal 🙏🌊💖💖💖. 2mo
monalyisha Tag me in your final review if you remember! I‘d love the reminder to look into this one. 🩵 2mo
AllDebooks This is delightful. x 2mo
kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @julieclair @Texreader @AnnCrystal @AllDebooks Aww It makes me happy to connect with other sea & water people!💙🩵💙 2mo
kspenmoll @monalyisha I will make a note to tag you. The author‘s language is just beautiful. 🩵💙🩵 2mo
TheBookHippie @kspenmoll Ocean yes. Lake NO. And yes, salt water cures all. 2mo
TheBookHippie @monalyisha My hold just came in so I‘ll tag ya too 😂😂😂😂 2mo
dabbe I feel the same way about mountains and woods. 🩵🩶🩵 2mo
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Roary47
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5✨It is well written, has a plethora of examples, and the author is obviously a leading mind in this field. I did the audiobook read by the author making an even better story. Very well done and informative. #NaturalLitsy @AllDebooks

AllDebooks 💚 2mo
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kspenmoll
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Plans for my #hyggehour #readathon #litsolace #midwintersolace #naturalitsy
My plans tonight: The book, tea, my reading corner, & my Em on my knees. Bliss.

AnnCrystal 💕😻💝. 2mo
TheBookHippie Bliss!!! 2mo
Bookwormjillk I love your chair. It looks so comfy. 2mo
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dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2mo
AllDebooks 💙❄️💙 2mo
Chrissyreadit 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵 2mo
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AllDebooks
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
tpixie I loved The book of Doors for @litsybookclub Some parts are darker than I expected , others full of magic! 3mo
44 likes2 comments
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LitsyEvents
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repost for @AllDebooks:

#NaturaLitsy

Our first read of the year is a discourse on the future of our oceans from an experienced marine biologist, Helen Scales.

https://helenscales.com/portfolio/what-the-wild-sea-can-be/

All are welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

AllDebooks A belated thank you for the share. I was distracted by family shenanigans 😅 3mo
31 likes1 comment
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AllDebooks
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#NaturaLitsy

Our first read of the year is a discourse on the future of our oceans from an experienced marine biologist, Helen Scales.

https://helenscales.com/portfolio/what-the-wild-sea-can-be/

All are welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

@LitsyEvents

kspenmoll Please keep me on the list. I plan to see if the library has the book- 3mo
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Larkken Beautiful cover 😍 3mo
Bookwormjillk Looking forward to this one! I used a credit to get the audio version. I‘m dreaming of long walks while learning about the ocean. 3mo
TheBookHippie Waiting on my library hold should be soon! 3mo
AllDebooks @Bookwormjillk wonderful 💙🌊💙 3mo
AllDebooks @Larkken I think so 😍 It's by Max Naylor, called The Riches (2023). His IG has several close-up photos that show the incredible detail.https://www.instagram.com/p/CsIyvMNoJ57/?img_index=4&igsh=Nzh6Y29qZjI4cDlv 3mo
Soscha I‘m scared with how depressing the Helen Scales is going to be. 🥺 3mo
Roary47 I love that this is right before I teach my classes hydrology. 😍 3mo
AllDebooks @Soscha This short read from the author explains why she wrote it. I hope it helps ease your anxiety. https://helenscales.com/portfolio/what-the-wild-sea-can-be/ 3mo
44 likes15 comments