Hunted to Extinction

Abstract

In our scheme of how the ocean works, we need to include both large predators and large herbivores, and in much greater numbers than currently. Their role in ecosystems has never been proven, therefore their true influence is difficult to quantify. What we do know is that long ago large animals were commonplace, so what we see now cannot be described as ‘pristine’ at all. As discussed in the previous chapter, large creatures are not just big eaters but key players in the regulation and maintenance of the marine system.