News Sources   

   

Want to get the latest scoop on dolphin-assisted child birthing or why giant oarfish are washing up on the shores of Japan?  Just check out D-News (www.news.discovery.com), which has current news articles and videos with direct links to such topics of interest as sharks, dolphins and whales, and oceans to name just a few.

• Similarly, Science Daily (www.sciencedaily.com) is one of our favorite sources for easy-to-understand summaries of breaking research findings in fields including marine biology, oceanography, coral reefs and dolphins and whales.  

• For those with an eye to more scholarly reading, MarineBio (www.marinebio.org) has an entire list of recommended open-access journals and magazines on marine biology-related subjects.   

• If you want to go straight for the gold, Marine Science Today (http://marinesciencetoday.com)  is a great source for  all things marine science.

 

Books:  Non-Fiction   

   

My Father, the Captain: My Life With Jacques Cousteau
by Jean-Michel Cousteau (with Daniel Paisner)(2010)

The life and work of Jacques Cousteau was indispensable to many areas of marine science, conservationism being just one facet of his legacy, and who better than his own son and fellow environmentalist,Jean-Michel Cousteau, to expand on his background and career?

 

The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One
by Sylvia A. Earle (2010) 

The subjects here are salmon, sea bass, cod and tuna, the fish most commonly consumed around the world. This book ties in to National Geographic's ambitious 5-year ocean initiative focusing on overfishing, and is written in National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle's accessible yet hard-hitting voice. Through compelling personal stories she puts the current and future peril of the ocean and the life it supports in perspective for a wide public audience.  

 

Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity
by David Kirby (2013)  

Sea World, a three-location marine mammal park in the US, has maintained an esteemed public image as one of the only tourist attractions in the country allowing visitors to observe captive orcas.  In spite of this reputation, a multitude of ethical dilemmas regarding the animals' captivity have risen, which Kirby observes in part by detailing the incident that thrust these dilemmas into the spotlight. Recommended for those who wish to learn more about the arguments against the keeping and training of orcas. For a fictional take on this topic, be sure to catch the 2012 movie, De rouille et d'os (Rust and Bone) starring Marion Cotillard.  

 

Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World

by Mark Kurlansky (1998) 

From the same author that brought you Salt: A World History and The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell, comes this biography of a single species of fish, but it may as well be a world history with this humble fish as its recurring main character. Winner of the 1999 James Beard Award (each chapter is headed with a recipe utilizing the famous whitefish), the book tells a tragic story of the hidden drivers behind slavery and war, of environmental failure and of depleted fishing stocks where once their numbers were legendary.   

 

Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food

by Paul Greenberg (2011)

This award-winning writer and lifelong fisherman takes us on a culinary journey, exploring the history of the fish that dominate our menus---salmon, sea bass, cod and tuna-and examining where each stands at this critical moment in time. By examining the forces that get fish to our dinner tables, he shows how we can start to heal the oceans and fight for a world where healthy and sustainable seafood is the rule rather than the exception.  

 

Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain's Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Oceans
by Charles Moore (with Cassandra Philips) (2012) 

When Moore, a self-described "citizen scientist," advanced his catamaran through what he describes as a "plastic soup," he was forced to confront the immense destructive potential of plastics firsthand and became inspired to conduct personal research into the nature of the substance we've come to rely on so that others might share his revelations. Sure to inspire a strong reaction in any conscientious reader.

   

A Sea in Flames: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Blowout
by Carl Safina (2011)

Conservationist Carl Safina is the author of six books that focus on both the science and the ethics of our relationship with nature. This book provides a vivid account of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Safina deconstructs the series of events that led to the disaster and reviews the consequences. Impassioned and insightful, this book is recommended for anyone wishing to learn more about the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 

 

Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid
by Wendy Williams (2011) 

The unique animals comprising the class Cephalopoda are the sole focus of this expansive, fact-rich book. The author's passion for her subject is contagious as she details the creatures' astounding attributes and surprising behaviors, even delving into such surrounding topics as the people and institutions that research them, as well as the nature of intelligence.
 

 

Books:  Fiction   

 

Rogue Justice (A Thriller)
by William Neal (2012)
This novel uses the real-life issues surrounding orca captivity as a backdrop to deliver a character-driven thriller which quickly takes its premise to the realm of science-fiction. Orca lovers will appreciate the author's researched knowledge of his subject, although, for many, the book's swift plot will likely be its biggest draw.

 

Flush

by Carl Hiassen (2010) 

In this book for younger readers, Noah's dad tried to stop the Coral Queen casino boat's illegal dumping by sinking the boat. But his bold protest fizzles: within days the casino is back in business, and Noah's dad is behind bars and out of action.  Now Noah is determined to succeed where his father failed. But even though pumping raw sewage into the waters of the Florida Keys is both gross and against the law, turns out it's near impossible to catch the flusher-especially when he's already bamboozled the prosecutors, the local press, and even the Coast Guard. Okay, so the odds aren't good. But Noah has an ace up his sleeve-a plan so crazy it just might stop the polluting, save the beaches, and prove to the world that it's the owner of the Coral Queen, and not his dad, who is full of crud. 

 

The Swarm

by Frank Schatzing (2007) 

This book, originally written in German but making the New York Times Best Sellers list in the English translation, follows an ensemble of protagonists who are investigating what first appear to be freak events related to the world's oceans. While the story unfolds, the novel touches various topics including the destruction and poisoning of the maritime ecosystems on earth, the importance of the sea for humanity and the coexistence of different species. The book also remarks on the human inability to thoroughly understand "alien" life; it speculates on the philosophical and religious consequence that the discovery of another sentient species on earth may have.  

 

 

Documentaries

 

The Whale: The True Story of Luna (2012), produced by Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds, is a "docurama" which tells the remarkable true story of a young, wild killer whale - an orca nicknamed Luna, who lost contact with his family on the coast of British Columbia and became famous around the world when he tried to make friends with human beings. This movie makes us rethink our most fundamental ideas about the nature of love and friendship.

The End of the Line: Where Have All the Fish Gone? (2010) Humans have long regarded the world's oceans as vast and inexhaustible. Now, we have learned otherwise. This documentary, based on the critically acclaimed book by Charles Clover The End of the Line: How Overfishing Is Changing the World and What We Eat, charts the devastating ecological impact of overfishing by interweaving both local and global stories of sharply declining fish populations, and illuminates how our modern fishing capacities far outstrip the survival abilities of any ocean species unless we adjust our fishing and consumption practices. 

  

Coral Reef Adventure (2003) follows the real-life expedition of ocean explorers and underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall. Using large-format cameras, the Halls guide us to the islands and sun-drenched waters of the South Pacific to document the health and beauty of coral reefs. 5 new species of fish were discovered during filming! This IMAX film features music by Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Disneynature Presents: Oceans (2010) The studio that previously produced the film Earth now brings the undersea world of Oceans to the big screen for Earth Day and beyond. Directors Jacques Perrin (Microcosmos, Winged Migration) and Jacques Cluzaud (Winged Migration) dive deep beneath the waves to explore the variety and beauty of the life that is found below. The imagery in this film has never been seen before and has been captured using the latest in undersea technology.

The Cove (2009) is directed by the experienced National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos, who sets about to uncover a shocking (but regular) ritual on the Japanese coast: the herding and slaughter of thousands of bottlenose dolphins in the town of Taiji. The team's spiritual and emotional captain is Richard O'Barry, the trainer of TV's Flipper back in the 1960s who, horrified by the way dolphins have been used in public displays, has been an anti-captivity activist for decades. The footage that results is so shocking it should cause seismic reactions in viewers.

Sharkwater (2008) For filmmaker Rob Stewart, exploring sharks began as an underwater adventure. What it turned into was a beautiful and dangerous life journey into the balance of life on earth. Driven by passion fed from a life-long fascination with sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas. Filmed in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater takes you into the most shark rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world's shark populations. Stewart's remarkable journey of courage and determination changes from a mission to save the world's sharks, into a fight for his life, and that of humankind.

The Blue Planet: Seas of Life (2002) is a documentary series narrated by Pierce Brosnan and David Attenborough. It encompasses 8 episodes: "Ocean World," "Frozen Seas," "Open Ocean," "The Deep," "Seasonal Seas," "Coral Seas," "Tidal Seas," and "Coasts".  It also includes a featurette, "Deep Trouble": a compelling exploration of man's impact on the Earth's oceans.  The series features extraordinary footage demonstrating the power, diversity, and profound ecological influence of Earth's oceans.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) An adaptation of the book by the same name written by Jules Verne, this movie depicts the story of how, in the year 1868, rumors of a sea monster attacking ships in the Pacific Ocean have created apprehension and fear among sailors, disrupting shipping lanes. The United States government invites Professor Pierre M. Aronnax and his assistant, Conseil, onto an expedition to prove or disprove the monster's existence.  This movie, starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, and Peter Lorre, was Walt Disney's first foray into science fiction.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) The submarine Seaview is going through its final tests in the Arctic region. One day, the Seaview unexpectedly goes through a dangerous underwater ice shower - the ice pieces the size of large boulders - which Admiral Harriman Nelson and his crew ultimately learn is due to the Van Allen Radiation Belt being on fire, causing the break-up of icebergs on the surface. If the fire is not contained, it could mean the destruction of the Earth. At a UN meeting in New York to discuss what to do, Nelson states that he believes the fire will not burn out as many other scientists believe, and that he can extinguish the fire by shooting a missile at the belt in exactly sixteen days from the region of the Marianas Trench in the Pacific.

Moby Dick (1956) Maybe you read the original Herman Mellville story back in high school as a summer reading assignment, but it's well worth picking up again, or taking the easy route down memory lane and watching this all-time classic starring Gregory Peck with screenplay by Ray Bradbury. The story is told from the perspective of the sole survivor of a lost whaling ship, who relates the tale of his captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick.  Did you know that Starbucks Coffee got its name from the first mate in the story?

Flipper (1963) portrays a 12-year old boy living with his parents in the Florida Keys, who befriends an injured wild dolphin. The lad and his pet become inseparable, eventually overcoming the misgivings of his fisherman father. The film introduced the popular song Flipper (by Dunham and Henry Vars), and inspired the subsequent television series of the same name, a number of film sequels, and a surge of college students majoring in marine science with a focus on marine mammals.

Finding Nemo (2003) Fun for the whole family, this Pixar animated film, in addition to being a rollicking good story, is surprisingly well researched and drawn with a great deal of veracity.  Watch this and who knows - you might even learn to speak "whale"!

Whale Rider (2002)
Although this film is ostensibly a contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize, the plight of the right whales in New Zealand is real, and the cinematography captures their majesty beautifully.