Informative, practical, and beautiful, this inspiring book shows how we can bring life back to the ocean, and in so doing revive our planet.

Many today bemoan the changes they see underwater: smaller and fewer fish, not as many species, bleached coral reefs. But change can happen, as this convincing volume demonstrates.

Here is a beautiful and authoritative book with a purpose, offering expert advice on how everyone, from individuals to communities and even countries, can create marine protected areas en route to saving 30% of the ocean by 2030—considered an essential goal by the world’s top climate scientists.

Through his National Geographic Pristine Seas project, internationally acclaimed ecologist Enric Sala has helped to create some 30 marine protected areas, representing a total area two-thirds the size of the continental United States. But that’s just a start, and now Sala and coauthor Rechberger, both globally recognized marine conservationists, show how efforts around the world can contribute to this initiative so vital to our planet.

With science-based narrative, explanatory infographics, informative maps, and detailed illustrations, Sala and Rechberger reveal what a pristine ocean looks like and then offer step-by-step practical advice on how to get there. By establishing marine protected areas, we can bring back more fish species, more vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine habitats, all contributing to a healthier ocean and planet.

This book is both an eye-opening exploration of ocean life and also a detailed instruction manual on how to establish marine protected areas, written not only for civic leaders and conservationists but for everyone who cares about the ocean they know and love.