The High Seas

Profoundly informed, passionately written and thrillingly adventurous, Heffernan’s book is both a masterful study in natural history and a forensic survey of the forces and activities that could cause irreparable harm – Philip BallIn her bold investigative book, Heffernan takes the reader on a journey like no other…a must-read book that will speak to everyone * Nature *There’s a lyrical quality to Dr Heffernan’s description of the diversity of marine life, and an ease with which she alternates science with historical nuggets * Irish Times *Compelling … admirably clear-eyed, refusing the easy consolation of toothless treaties and mollifying pabulum from politicians * Economist *A vital, fascinating, deeply researched exploration of Earth’s last wilderness, owned by us all and by no one. This is powerful and urgent reportage that rips the veil of romanticism to reveal a vast world of criminal and dangerous enterprise accelerating beyond our shores – Gaia VincePowerful reportage * Sunday Times *With energy equal to her profound subject, Heffernan boards many ships and journeys from the Arctic to the Antarctic to bring us an illuminating portrait of a world we rarely see and barely understand - and of the hidden forces that threaten to wreck it – Robert KunzigA powerful cri de coeur * Irish Independent *On the surface the seas roll on as always. But below, much is changing. And much more is at stake as humans seek plunder and profit beyond the reach of nations. In The High Seas, Olive Heffernan ably takes us into the history, the present, and the future of this largest and most mysterious realm of the planet. – Carl SafinaA comprehensive and disturbing investigation of the avarice and lawlessness that now afflict our ungoverned oceans; it took men and women a long time to comprehend the wonders of the deep but only a very brief period to begin their destruction. As to the cause of this oceanic crisis, The High Seas is clear … this is a stark, grim story, succinctly told by Heffernan [and] it is hard to disagree with. – Robin McKie * Observer *Heffernan’s reporting reveals our human imprint everywhere in the oceans, from the surface to the seafloor, by deciphering the geopolitics, economics, environmental sciences, and morality behind our use of the high seas – Helen Rozwadowski, author of VAST EXPANSESThis book is the essential guide to the half of our blue planet we call the high seas, written by someone who has done more than almost anyone on earth in the last few years to understand the problems we face, and the solutions that might be available. – Will McCallum, author & director of Greenpeace UKThe best introduction I have ever read to the biological, technical, and institutional issues connected with the High Seas and the exploitation of its resources. A gem of a book! – Daniel PaulyIn the vein of Ian Urbina’s The Outlaw Ocean and Helen Scales’ The Brilliant Abyss comes Olive Heffernan’s The High Seas: an exploration of the breakneck industrialization occurring in the global ocean today. In clear prose, Heffernan investigates the ongoing experiments to bend the high seas to society’s will as well as the unknown benefits and risks that may result. An important, timely book – Laura Trethewey, author of THE DEEPEST MAPA vital book at a deeply contested moment in history for our oceans and humanity at large. With beautifully rendered portraits and a thoughtful examination of the science, Heffernan has accomplished something extraordinary: bringing sense and rhythm to the contested, perilous, and often chaotic realm of our most remote seas – Karen Pinchin, author of KINGS OF THEIR OWN OCEANFast-paced, thoroughly reported and deeply disquieting * Science News *A wonderful and eye opening book … [The High Seas] is an impressive and sweeping study, ranging masterfully across time and space * Intelligence Squared *The High Seas features a huge array of stories, brilliantly encapsulated in one book … it’s a fantastic and chilling read that takes us on a remarkable journey – Paul Ross * talkSPORT Book of the Week *A powerful, detailed and important book – Graeme Gourlay * Dive Magazine *Olive Heffernan has written a sobering account of the threats to marine life [and] was certainly not content to splash in the shallows when researching this book. The High Seas doesn’t sugar-coat the tough reality facing our oceans and Heffernan has delivered a passionate and persuasive polemic, one that often feels as shocking as a bucket of cold water to the face – Andrew Lynch * Business Post *Fascinating – Dr Waseem Akhtar * Demystified at Dublin City FM *

Olive Heffernan is an award-winning science journalist. Her work has been published in Nature, WIRED, National Geographic, Salon, Scientific American and BBC Wildlife, among other outlets. Now freelance, Olive spent a number of years with Nature covering climate change, including as first chief editor of the research journal Nature Climate Change. In 2019, she joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins University as an adjunct lecturer and received a Giles St Aubyn Award for non-fiction from the Royal Society of Literature. In 2024, she was funded by the Pulitzer Centre to report on ocean conservation in Europe. Her first book THE HIGH SEAS: Ambition, Power and Greed on the Unclaimed Ocean was published in 2024. She lives by the sea in Ireland.