Neptune wept as the oceans ran red.
The ocean is dying, and no one is stopping it.
When a luxury super yacht is deliberately sunk by an illegal fishing fleet off the Galapagos Islands, it sparks an extraordinary mission that could change the fate of our oceans forever. Marine biologist Dr. Carmen Mendoza and former special forces operative Jack Christian find themselves at the center of a dangerous plan: put the world's largest illegal fishing fleet permanently out of action.
Oceans of Blood is a heart-pounding eco-thriller that exposes the catastrophic reality of illegal overfishing—an environmental crisis that threatens all life on Earth. One hundred million sharks are killed every year just for shark fin soup. Ninety percent of commercial fish stocks teeter on the verge of collapse. Illegal fishing fleets, operating with impunity across the world's oceans, don't just destroy marine life—they facilitate drug trafficking, support terrorism, and enable modern slavery.
The United Nations has failed. International fishing agreements are ignored. Governments lack the resources or political will to enforce the laws. When traditional approaches fail, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Join Jack, Carmen, and a team of activists with unique skills as they race against time to expose government corruption, confront corporate greed, and bring an end to the illegal fishing industry that's driving our oceans toward collapse. With the Environmental Justice Foundation's real-world research as a backdrop, this thriller combines edge-of-your-seat action with urgent environmental truth.
By putting the largest illegal fishing fleet out of commission and drawing global attention to the perils of overfishing, they may just start a tsunami of positive change—before it's too late.
“The ocean is like a checking account, where everybody withdraws but nobody makes a deposit. This is what's happening because of overfishing. Many fisheries have collapsed, and 90 percent of the large fish, sharks, tuna, and cod are gone.”
~ Dr. Enric Sala, conservationist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence
The Environmental Crisis Behind the Story
Oceans of Blood isn't just fiction—it's based on terrifying environmental reality:
The Annual Shark Massacre: Over 100 million sharks are killed every year, primarily for shark fin soup, a delicacy that has pushed multiple shark species toward extinction. Sharks are apex predators essential to ocean ecosystem health—their disappearance creates cascading ecological disasters.
Fish Stock Collapse: Ninety percent of the world's commercial fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted. We have twice the number of fishing vessels than the oceans can sustainably support.
Illegal Fishing's Criminal Network: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing accounts for nearly one-third of all fish caught globally. These criminal fleets don't just destroy marine ecosystems—they're connected to drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and modern slavery. Crew members on illegal vessels often work in conditions of forced labor, trapped at sea for years.
Climate Change Connection: Healthy oceans absorb massive amounts of CO2, helping mitigate climate change. As fishing destroys ocean ecosystems, this critical carbon sink weakens, accelerating global warming.
China's Role: China operates the world's largest distant-water fishing fleet, with vessels illegally fishing in waters from West Africa to South America, devastating local fish stocks and destroying the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The Enforcement Gap: Open ocean policing is virtually non-existent. The vastness of the oceans, combined with limited resources and international jurisdictional complexities, allows illegal fishing fleets to operate with near-total impunity.
What Readers Will Learn
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How illegal fishing operations actually work and why they're so difficult to stop
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The connection between illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and modern slavery
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The role of organizations like the Environmental Justice Foundation in fighting IUU fishing
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Why sharks are critical to ocean ecosystem health and what their extinction would mean
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How abandoned "ghost nets" continue killing marine life for decades
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The economic and environmental impact of corporate greed on ocean ecosystems
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Real-world strategies being deployed to combat illegal fishing
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Why protecting our oceans is essential to fighting climate change
FAQs About Oceans of Blood
Q: Is Oceans of Blood based on real events? A: While the specific characters and plot are fictional, the environmental crisis depicted is entirely real. The statistics about shark deaths, fish stock collapse, and illegal fishing operations are based on current scientific research and reports from organizations like the Environmental Justice Foundation and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Q: What is the Environmental Justice Foundation referenced in the book? A: The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is a real international organization working to protect the environment and defend human rights. Their work on illegal fishing has exposed criminal operations worldwide and helped establish protections for ocean ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
Q: Is this book part of a series? A: While Oceans of Blood is a standalone novel, I'm currently writing another eco-thriller set in West Africa that explores the connection between illegal fishing off Senegal and African migration to Europe. Some themes and environmental issues connect across my novels.
Q: What age group is this book appropriate for? A: Oceans of Blood is written for adult readers and contains realistic depictions of violence related to the illegal fishing trade and environmental destruction. I recommend it for readers 16 and older.
Q: Where is Oceans of Blood set? A: The novel spans multiple locations including the Galapagos Islands, West Africa, Southeast Asia, the California coast, and the high seas, the international waters where illegal fishing fleets operate beyond most legal jurisdiction.
Q: Do I need a science background to understand the book? A: Not at all. While the environmental science is accurate, I've woven the information into the narrative naturally. Readers learn about ocean ecosystems and the fishing industry through the characters' experiences, not through lectures.
Q: What makes Oceans of Blood different from other environmental fiction? A: My background as a marine ecologist trained at Harvard gives me insider knowledge of ocean ecosystems, while my decades as a corporate consultant help me portray the business and political dynamics that enable environmental destruction. I also focus on solutions and the real organizations fighting these crises.
Q: Will reading this book depress me about the state of our oceans? A: The environmental crisis is real and urgent, so the book doesn't sugarcoat the challenges. However, the story focuses on people taking action and making a difference. My goal is to inspire readers to care about ocean conservation and support organizations working to protect marine ecosystems.