Book Review: The Outlaw Ocean

The Outlaw Ocean 

Review by Harriet

A fascinating, urgent, and at times horrifying investigation into the complexity of the ocean and the terrible human and environmental costs that stem from the rampant and unregulated exploitation of its resources. Urbina’s writing is immensely readable and although he deservedly devotes much the book to issues such as sea slavery and violence – that exploit the vastness, remoteness and lawlessness of the ocean – he also provides moments of relief, such as the bizarre micro-nation of Sealand and the feats of an ‘anti-pirate’ repo man, showing how these same qualities also allow for instances of hope, absurdity and triumph against the odds.