The Frail Ocean, Wesley Marx

Through a mix of indictment of the ruthless ocean exploitation at the hands of men, and lyrical joy of the wonders of the sea, Wesley Marx’s The Frail Ocean communicates both his love of its enormity and fertility, and his fear for its future. Published in 1969, several review quotes compare this book to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) and urge it to have as strong an impact; for the two to sit alongside each other on bookshelves across the world. Unfortunately, judging by the lack of information we can find on this book and its author online it appears that this wasn’t the fate of The Frail Ocean.

Wesley Marx was born and raised in California. He has contributed to a number of environmental books and publications and in addition to three editions of the Phelan Award-winning The Frail Ocean, he has authored seven books on marine conservation and the environment including Acts of God, Acts of Man and Oilspill. Wesley Marx has served on marine panels for the National Research Council, on the governing board of the California Tahoe Regional Agency and has been a member of the California Attorney General's Environmental Task Force.