The Norwegian bestseller En sjanse i havet is now also published in German under the title Kann das Meer die Erde retten? It is far more than a marine science book. Written by Norwegian marine biologist Even Moland, it is educational, captivating, deeply thought-provoking, and in many ways revolutionary.
For Norwegian readers especially, the book represents something remarkably new: it is not only a clear and uncompromising examination of how critically important the oceans are for the survival of life on Earth. It demonstrates how dangerously vulnerable they have become through human activity. In a country whose identity and economy have always been closely connected to the sea, Moland dares to address difficult questions about overfishing, destructive fishing practices, climate change, pollution, and political short-sightedness.
As a dynamic and internationally experienced scientist at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, based at the renowned Flødevigen Marine Research Station in Arendal, Moland combines scientific expertise with the perspective of someone who has explored marine ecosystems around the world. His firsthand experiences as a diver and field researcher give the book an authenticity and urgency that make it impossible to ignore.
One of the book’s most important messages is that humanity must finally learn from the historical collapse of fish stocks. Moland explains convincingly why at least 30% of the oceans should be placed under effective protection through large no-take zones where fishing is completely excluded. Only then can fish grow older and larger, produce more offspring exponentially, and help marine ecosystems recover naturally. He also strongly criticises destructive bottom trawling practices and misguided subsidies that continue to damage vulnerable seabed habitats, including in Norway.
Particularly revolutionary for Norway is Moland’s call for the creation of “real” marine national parks: large protected marine areas free from industrial fishing, where nature can regenerate on a meaningful scale. Importantly, he shows that such protection not only benefits biodiversity but can also create positive spillover effects for surrounding fisheries and coastal communities. He bases these facts on concrete experiences in other parts of the world.
What makes the book so powerful is its balance between scientific authority and hope. Moland explains in accessible language how the oceans function as the “heart and lungs” of our planet, regulating climate, producing oxygen, sustaining biodiversity, and supporting human civilisation itself. Yet this is not a book of despair. It is a passionate argument that recovery is still possible if humanity acts decisively and gives the ocean a real chance.
For followers of VISION 52 who care about undisturbed nature, conservation, the 30 x 30 goal, climate, and the future of our planet, Kann das Meer die Erde retten? is highly recommended. Even Moland has written a courageous and important work that deserves international attention. It is clearly a wake-up call, but also a message of hope from beneath the waves.
Peter Prokosch