The Outlaw Ocean

The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina takes readers on an eye-opening journey through the vast and often brutal expanse of our world's oceans. This gripping exploration reveals the untamed frontiers that lie beyond the reach of law and order, where human behaviour pushes extreme boundaries and criminality runs rampant. Urbina, through direct encounters and harrowing narratives, delves into this hidden world to uncover the profound complexities and dangers that define life at sea.

The book introduces readers to a myriad of characters who inhabit these treacherous waters. From modern-day pirates and human traffickers to vigilante conservationists and stowaways, each story reveals a layer of criminal activities and personal struggles that are largely invisible to those on land. The author exposes a vast web of crime and exploitation that originates within the fishing, oil, and shipping industries, affecting many more aspects of global society than one might expect.

An adrenalin-fuelled narrative, The Outlaw Ocean reads with the pace of a thriller, blending elements of investigative journalism with compelling story-telling. Urbina's evocative prose brings to life the lawless expanse of the high seas, examining how international waters have become a sanctuary for the exploitation of both human and natural resources.

The Outlaw Ocean has garnered critical acclaim and has been recognised for its insightful expose of one of the world's most elusive and precarious realms. Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2019, the book has received accolades from prominent figures and publications alike:

"Just incredible" - Naomi Klein

"Gripping and shocking...with the pace of a thriller" - The Times

Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland, praises it as "an astonishing book about a world most of us don't even know exists", while the Guardian describes it as "an outstanding investigation of a global criminal culture on the high seas". The New York Times commends it as "truly important... A complex portrait of an unseen and disturbing world".

The Outlaw Ocean is not just a book about the sea; it is a compelling examination of humanity's darker sides and the environmental and ethical implications of our activities in one of the earth's last frontiers. Urbina's masterful storytelling and rigorous investigative journalism make this a must-read for anyone interested in the hidden truths of our world.