At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans

by Tessa Hill, Eric Simons

The world's oceans are changing at a drastic pace. In response, the people who know the ocean most intimately are taking action for the sake of our shared future. Community scientists track species in California tidepools. Researchers dive into the waters around Sydney to replant kelp forests. Scientists and First Nations communities collaborate to restore clam gardens in the Pacific Northwest.

In At Every Depth, the oceanographer Tessa Hill and the science journalist Eric Simons profile these and other efforts to understand and protect marine environments, taking listeners to habitats from shallow tidepools to the deep sea. They delve into the many human connections to the ocean—how people live with and make their living from the waters—journeying to places as far-flung as coral reefs, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the Arctic and Antarctic poles.

At Every Depth shares the stories of people from all walks of life, including scientists, coastal community members, Indigenous people, shellfish farmers, and fisheries workers. It brings together varied viewpoints, showing how scientists' research and local and Indigenous knowledge can complement each other to inform a more sustainable future. This book offers a narrative perspective on the changing oceans, letting us see how our relationships to the oceans are changing too.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Climate Change, Environment, Biology, Ecology

280 pages, Hardcover

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite ocean books! I really loved this collection of stories from various ecosystems and people. A great deal of attention is drawn towards Indigenous knowledge, which is very important and good to read as a Western marine biologist. A lot of the references are very useful to me, and I even found something to think about for my next publication. The book is easy to read, and when it was done, I wished there was even more!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC to read & review. These are my honest opinions.

[kendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has found itself on the top of my list of favorite ocean books. Wow! Phenomenal read. “At Every Depth” takes the reader through different ocean habitats and ecosystems, highlighting specific species that are threatened while not making the reader lose hope. It is incredibly informative and insightful, sharing about issues in the intertidal, to the Arctic, to the deep sea. “At Every Depth” stands out from others through sharing and highlighting the Indigenous people around the globe who are essential to saving the ocean but have historically been left out of conservation.

This book doesn’t shy away from pointing out the harms that Western science and conservation have done to Indigenous people, culture, and the environment. The stories highlight how important Indigenous knowledge and culture are to protecting marine species and ecosystems. ”At Every Depth” talks about the many aspects of Western conservation that leaves Indigenous people out of the conversation, from Marine Protected Areas to aquaculture. This is so critical for people who want to help the ocean to be aware of and work to change.

I also loved the flow of the book and what ecosystems/issues that the author chose to highlight. They were incredibly powerful and informative, at times emotional enough that I actually cried! Not just once, but twice. Not sad tears but hopeful tears.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book so I can re-read it to highlight and bookmark information I’d love to be able to turn back too or relay to others. This book encapsulates so much that I have learned and felt in my years working in conservation, but also taught me so much, I see myself turning back to it often.

[Wendelle]

a tremendously affecting piece of scientific literature, this book combs through the latest research, interviews leading oceanographers and marine biologists, and draws from the experience and insights of Indigenous people to reveal how climate change has been affecting the ocean at every level:
tide pools that were usually self-enclosed worlds have seen surge of new migration of non-tidal animals, like jellyfish and snails;
reefs even in the most isolated and pristine regions of the world have bleached or died off, as swift temperature rises and ocean acidification have damaged their symbiotic relationships with algae;
kelp forests that can flourish only to temperatures of up to 75 degrees have suffered similar die-offs, along with impacted sea meadows;
fishing stocks have plummeted and whales die from overfishing for crabs and lobsters;
open oceans have been blotted with plastic pollution patches;
polar regions have seen ice melting and sea water rise. This is an eye-opening book about the state of marine conservation efforts.

[Isaiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

To see a full review check it out here.

Approachable and deeply impactful. I love the ocean more than I did before.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly readable yet rigorously evidence-based look at our ocean - the peril that humans have placed it in and the wonders that it holds in store for us. It's impossible to read this book and not feel compelled to advocate for the ocean.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We seem to know more about the moon and some other alien worlds than we do about what transpires under the depths of the seas all around us.

It is not for lack of trying. We are gaining much greater insights about the oceans and their ecosystems; and in order to learn, some things have needed to be unlearned, and that which was known by our ancestors required recovering.

At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans (galley received as part of early review program) lays out what we are learning about the oceans, and how Science has had to humble itself and lean into and learn from Indigenous wisdom regarding the oceans.

The authors start at the shore and move outward, considering specific areas and the researchers learning about them. The exploration begins in tide pools off the central California coast; then the reefs of the Caribbean and Australia; the kelp forests, particularly in California; the clam gardens of the Pacific Northwest; the fish ponds of Hawaii; the open ocean and all the plastic now therein; the polar seas and environments; and the deep sea, exemplified with research into the Monterey Canyon and the research in the 20th and 21st centuries which led to greater understanding of the seafloor and the ocean ridges.

For each region/biome we discover how much has only been learned in the past century and how much we have yet to learn. The authors rely heavily on Indigenous wisdom and understanding, describing how they actively and well managed aquatic resources in a sustainable way yet provided significant abundance for all involved. We learn how the Polynesians understood the world as a constellation of islands, centering the ocean where we tend to center the land. And there’s a lot of humility regarding how much we do not know, and a warning about how much might be lost without better conservation and more sustainable management practices.

Throughout is the story of change: adaptations based on human interactions and fishing; the effects of a warming, more acidic ocean, and how the various regions/biomes are specifically affected.

The conclusion tells the story of the white abalone: its almost extinction at the hands of humans, but then how humans have been working diligently to conserve them, with some success.

Thus we have not yet reached the complete end of the ocean environments as we have known them, but they are all in quite a bit of danger. We don’t even know much about the deep, but there’s already attempts to mine them. Overfishing and plastic bedevils the oceans everywhere; we humans need to learn restraint and get away from plastic.

This is a great resource to learn more about the oceans around us and why it is important to give appropriate consideration to Indigenous practice and wisdom. They’ve lived in the land for generations and figured out some things. Western science could learn a few things.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ocean habitats and ecosystems, oceanography and related sciences are made clearly understandable to this resident of the Great Lakes. For far too long the mindset of the land/water resources abusers has ignored the wisdom of the people indigenous to both salt and fresh bodies of water around the globe, but these specialists have made a concerted effort to teach academic and non-academic a more wise way to live WITH our oceans instead of vainly attempting to bend them to our will. I learned a lot!
I requested and received an EARC from Columbia University Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

The structure (starting in shallows and moving on to the deep) worked very well.

The book is pretty light on science and more focused on anecdotal passages. And that's fine! More than fine, really, as I enjoyed the personal touch. There's a strong leaning towards indigenous history, practices, and conservation efforts which was superbly done and a much needed area to put some light on, IMO.

[raceasin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boyyyyyyyy this book was a doozy. I am so depressed about the state of the world and the ocean. Great read but note it’s a tough one.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very imformative, comprehensive and educational book about the alarming changes to the ocean because of humans, especially since the Industrial Revolution. The book does offer some helpful resolutions if people work together for conservation efforts. Climate change really is big effing problem!

Well written and vey disturbing. The ocean is vital to life on the planetfor everyone and everything.

Recommended.

THanks to Netgalley, Tessa Hill, Eric Simmons and Columbia University Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 2/6/2024

[Karina J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ocean has a treasure trove of stories and wonders to reveal just under its surface. In our modern existence many of us live disconnected from the knowledge and rhythms of the natural world, and even more so from the underwater realms of the ocean. Yet our lives are more connected to the ocean than many appreciate. Authors Tessa Hill and Eric Simons take us below the waves to learn what is happening in the sea through the voices of people who hold the ocean close in their lives. We learn from the stories and knowledge carried through generations of living in relationship with the ocean, generated using the tools of western science, and earned by those who make their living from the sea. They help us understand the ocean and how it is changing from multiple perspectives, lifting the voices of many who are often not heard.

[Kat K · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you begin to wrap your head and arms around the ocean? This book is a great start.

“At Every Depth" made me feel and think, despair and hope, and inspired me to reexamine how I work, write and live. It was emotionally challenging and deeply rewarding to read.

It reminded me of how connected everyone and everything is, and how our disconnection from the natural world is at the root of climate change. Reconnection may lead to a sustainable--or at least salvageable--future.

Through narrative storytelling and spotless science communication, the book dives in to the ever-changing ocean -- from its coastlines and reefs to the poles and its deepest depths. Whether we live in a landlocked state or along the coast, we each impact the ocean, and it impacts every one of us.

Weaving together scientific, local and Indigenous knowledge, Hill and Simon share stories from people who know the ocean intimately and are its witnesses. These include scientists protecting abalone, Indigenous people tending and revitalizing clam gardens, coral researchers with their hearts breaking, and citizen scientists counting seals via satellite images on the internet.

“At Every Depth" gives voice to the voiceless, mysterious ocean, helping to ensure that what is out of sight is not out of mind.

[Beth Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was very educational. I enjoyed how the chapters were broken down based on areas that we are studying of the ocean. I enjoyed that it told us about the journey of studying our oceans and covered a wide area. I also really liked the combination of indigenous and local history/experiences with the scientific study of our oceans.

[Anne Janzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two-thirds of the planet is covered by oceans, yet we tend to forget about critical ecosystems below the surface. This book dives deep into climate-induced changes happening in our oceans, from coral reefs and tidepools to whale migration. It’s well-researched, eye-opening, and worth the journey.

[Foggygirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, both informative and educational.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about the resilience of people and sea creatures, and about how to chart a future by connecting to the past.

[Sophia Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book - I highly recommend this book to everyone!

[For The Novel Lovers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book Review
Title: At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans by Tessa Hill & Eric Simons
Genre: Non-Fiction, Science, Nature
Rating: DNF
At Every Depth is a non-fiction book I have seen around looking at various parts of the ocean which is something that has both fascinated and terrified me. The first part we look at is tide pools which are a small pockets dense with life. However in recent years it has been noted that the species list has changed as cold water species have moved on since the water temperatures have been rising. This is a natural part of the earth's cycle although the book blames global warming but I don't buy into it. Tide pools are unique because of the diversity of life found there and how it is changing more frequently than the rest of the ocean but often goes unseen except to the trained eye.
The second area we look at is reefs. Reefs are brilliant tourist attractions in places like Australia's Great Barrier Reef but larger coral reefs have been dying of in recent years but thriving in others, pointing once again to the natural cycle of the earth changing ever so slightly resulting in some huge changes.
The reef chapter is all about coral reefs which were exciting to learn about. Coral actually lives in a symbiotic relationship with algae which is what gives the coral its colour and coral bleaching doesn’t equal coral death. When bleaching was first observed scientists didn’t have an idea what was causing it but it soon became clear there might be correlation between water temperatures rising and the bleaching event. As mentioned bleaching does mean death, it is just the coral expelling the algae thus losing its coral rendering it white. However, this phenomena reached across the globe even to the most remote coral reefs on the planet making scientists question the reason behind the bleaching. In areas with excessive pollution and overfishing these did contribute to coral death but not in other areas. This is still an area of science that isn’t well known and needs more investigation. As I don’t buy into the climate change theory I think it’s due to the natural progress of warming in the planets cycle.
Next up is the forests which might seem strange in a book about the oceans but there are numerous forests underwater just slightly different to the ones we know on land. There are also forest like mangrove forests that connection the ocean and the land. Hill makes the point that things like kelp forests are just as important to grow and sustain the underwater cycle as regular trees are on land but many overlook because of where they are. It is the old saying of out of sight, out of mind and this has meant the massive decline of several species of kelp has gone completely unseen except by scientists and people need to be more aware of small changes happening throughout the work. Learning about the relationships between the kelp forests and hordes of other life forms was fascinating and peaked my interest for what was to come.
The next chapter focuses on gardens, and this chapter was unfortunately the one that made me give up on this book. There was a major sign I was bored by this book and that was I fell asleep every time I tried to pick it up. While there were some interesting moments it definitely felt extremely repetitive and I ended up DNFing it as 40%.

[Mikala · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a topic as broad and deep as the ocean (pun intended), a book really needs to have a central theme and message. For me, this was really missing in At Every Depth. It was well researched and mostly covers the Pacific Ocean with a focus on North America. It was better grammatically edited than Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes Through Indigenous Science and yet, had many of the same structural issues. The stories were repetitive, random and didn't seem to focus the reader towards a culminating thesis of the work.
I feel like these writers amass a lot of hard work and research and want to put it to good use. I agree that it should be published, and please do the hard work of figuring out what you want to say and how to say it. Regurgitating facts and stats with nothing to attach to, is a bit disheartening for the reader. Additionally, the ocean is so beautiful and lends itself to verbose and flowery descriptions. Yet, we get none of that in this book. It's more like the author is trying to describe a three-dimensional spreadsheet.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigenous lives are consistently at risk and so is the health of the ocean. The coast is forced to subscribe to western philosophies that fail to see how deep climate change harms the ocean. Healing the ocean begins with awareness and advocacy to promote real change. To heal the ocean means reclaiming knowledge that was burned for the sake of the western standard of living.
This book talks about the heart oof the ocean in the coral reefs and the declining kelp population. Stories from indigenous people, colonization consequences, and current conservation efforts that are trying to clean the ocean. This is an informative read that makes you start to decolonize how we think about her interactions with nature and handling.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains how scientists, indigenous peoples, and volunteers are responding to unprecedented ocean changes. Grounded in science, the journey highlights human connections to the ocean and the shared goal of supporting a sustainable future in the face of a transforming seascape.

It’s heart-wrenching to read how the oceans have changed over the past 50 years, but this engrossing book offers hope for the future.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This great read allows the authors to remind us how we have overfished the oceans of the world. The poor oyster! Abalone! The common crab! All overfished! The authors remind us that we don’t think of conservation until the species in question are overfished. Fortunately science has prevailed. Looking to the future, we need to do everything to clean up the oceans and revive the fish and shellfish that the authors lovingly write about! Read this book and help save the oceans of the world!!!!

[Jeff Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minus 1 star for calling NOAA the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Yes it's a pet peeve of mine but, NOAA is the National OCEANIC and Atmospheric Administration. A book on the ocean should know this or at least be caught by the fact checker.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

My expectation for this book was learn something about the ocean. This book focuses on the people who research the sea and their background stories. Maybe 10% is what they found and 90% the backstory. This wasn't for me.

[Andre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a slog. Way more about humans than I expected, it as much about the ocean. Large sections on Indigenous relationships with the ocean generally did not speak to me. Lots of quotes from other writing, which at times made it seem like a report.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dramatic stories of ocean discoveries and extensive studies by scientist of the rapidly changing waters.

[Cascade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read for a seminar for grad students and upper level undergrads - our students really enjoyed discussing it.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. I learned a lot from this book, even though it was hard to read at times because it's hard to know how much damage humans are doing on our oceans. Especially the acknowledgement that we still don't know the ocean well enough to know how our choices and systems impact it. I wish there'd been more indigenous voices, but I'm glad they were generally included throughout.