The Death and Life of Monterey Bay

This is a great little hidden gem of nature/cultural studies by Stephen Palumbi & Carolyn Sotka from Island Press (forthcoming in December 2010). The book chronicles the natural history of San Francisco’s Monterey Bay from its discovery in the 18^th century to the present day, culminating with the construction of the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium.

There is much to like here, and the writing is excellent, moving smoothly from science to history to sociology and back again.  The natural bounty of the bay, in the form of otters, whaling, abalone, sardines and the self-contained kelp ecosystem, illustrates the evolution and decline of the bay over the past two centuries.  Cultural themes are examined as well in the form of the story of the Pacific Grove colony and the sardine canning industry, inspiration for John Steinbeck’s ‘Cannery Row’.

Throughout the book, the authors single out historical figures, from Steinbeck to the remarkable Dr. Mayor Julia Platt (who more than merits a stand-alone biography), a scientist-turned-politician who first set aside protected areas in the bay in the early 20^th century.

The aquarium literally sprang from the ruins of the canneries in the late 1970s, and the tale of its development is thoroughly told in the last third of the book.

Surprisingly absorbing and well-researched, this book deserves a large audience and  is well worth seeking out, though I expect it will find the most shelf space in academic or large public libraries.  (Advance copy courtesy of the publisher and netGalley – photos not seen)