“What is the story behind a simple tuna can? Steven Adolf wrote a fascinating history of tuna fishing, from the ancient times till the modern food-industry. Thoroughly researched, an example of writing at its highest level.”
Geert Mak, writer of the non-fiction bestseller In Europe.
THE BOOK
It presents the history of tuna fishing from its earliest roots. Tells the untold story of the power struggles emerging around tuna, from the distant past to the present-day. And, offers guidance on choosing sustainably fished tuna
Whenever tuna was hauled ashore, the sounds of battle were never far away. ‘Tuna Wars’ tells the untold story of the power struggles emerging around tuna, from the distant past to your present-day dinner table.
In the ancient times, the giant tuna was the first fish to become the basis of a large-scale industry and a ‘global’ trade that created fortunes: Hannibal was able to finance his elephant campaign on Rome thanks to tuna. From the Middle Ages on, a tuna fishing monopoly on Spain’s southern coast allowed the nobility to completely dominate the area and even lead the ‘invincible’ Armada. When the markets for tuna increased exponentially thanks to technical advances, tuna eventually became a billion-dollar business and one of the most-consumed fish species worldwide.
But this massive expansion came at a price. An 18th century monk in Madrid was the first to warn that tuna fisheries needed to be run sustainably for the sake of future generations. And the issue of sustainability would go on to become a game-changer in the modern tuna wars, characterized by new alliances and partnerships, hybrid warfare and commercial power struggles.
In addition to accompanying you through the history of tuna and sharing insights into fisheries science and approaches to sustainably managing fisheries, Tuna Wars offers practical guidance on choosing sustainably fished tuna.
In short, the Tuna Wars book tells you everything you ever wanted to know about tuna fish, but never dared to ask.
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THE AUTHOR
Steven Adolf
Economist Steven Adolf is a researcher, author and advisor on sustainability issues based in the Netherlands. His love for the Bluefin Tuna, the sea and economics encouraged him to write his first tuna book from a historical perspective, Reuzentonijn (Giant Tuna 2009, Dutch language). Right after he began a research within the project on sustainable tuna fishery policies at Wageningen University. He actually works as an advisor and researcher in the field of sustainable tuna fisheries.
Steven Adolf has been working as an economic editor and correspondent in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. He is author of country portraits best-sellers books of Spain and Morocco, and a book on Spanish immigration in the Netherlands. Currently he lives and works in The Netherlands and Spain.