Between one-half and two-thirds of the world's population suffers from chronic undernourishment, and the world's population continues to increase at an alarming rate. If mankind is to save itself, it must produce more food. To Elisabeth Mann Borgese it is clear that a profound transformation in mankind's relationship to the sea is needed.
Life on earth, Mrs. Borgese reminds us, began in the sea; and, as SEAFARM: THE STORY OF AQUACULTURE convincingly demonstrates, it is on the sea that life may ultimately depend. It is to the sea that mankind is returning in time of need to find new sources of food and energy. The land, which yields 96 percent of the world's food, is overexploited. By contrast, the sea, which covers three-fourths of the world's surface, is rich in untapped potential.
SEAFARM is a worldwide survey of aquaculture methods. In China there is a saying: "Where there is water, there should be fish." It was the ancient Chinese who discovered that it was possible to raise several species of fish in "polyculture," and who integrated aquaculture with agriculture. By adapting new technologies to old principles, their descendants have made modern China responsible for almost half the total amount of fish farmed in the world.
Now it is time for the world to become one great "seafarm." Inspired by her vision of "Planet Ocean," Mrs. Borgese traveled around the world to study aquaculture as it is practiced in many different forms: she visited communities in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, the U.S.A., and the U.S.S.R. The gifted photographer Robert Ketchum shared a large part of this journey. SEAFARM not only reports the author's encouraging findings, but also proposes legislation to ensure the rational and efficient use of our aquatic resources. Mrs. Borgese's informative text, enhanced by many beautiful photographs, is a notable contribution to our understanding of man's relationship to his environment. Fully indexed.
The author of the highly successful The Drama of the Oceans, Elisabeth Mann Borgese is the Chairman of the International Ocean Institute in Malta, and has for several years been active in the Conference on the Law of the Seas at the United Nations.
131 illustrations including 54 plates in full color.