The Outlaw Ocean

The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier (also published as The Outlaw Ocean: Crime and Survival in the Last Untamed Frontier) is a 2019 book by Ian Urbina about crime and extralegal activity in international waters. The book was based on an investigate journalism series Urbina wrote for The New York Times.^[1] Topics covered include illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, modern slavery and violent crime committed at sea, as well of the work of organisations, governments and companies in international waters.^[2][3][4] The book was critically acclaimed.

The Outlaw Ocean

First edition
Author	Ian Urbina
Language	English
Subject	Crime marine conservation maritime law law of the sea illegal fishing piracy human trafficking
Genre	True crime Investigative journalism
Published	2019 (Knopf) 2020 (Vintage Publishing)
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print
Pages	560

Synopsis

The Outlaw Ocean is structured as a series of essays about lawlessness at sea with each chapter covering a different aspect and case studies. Urbina describes his experiences of their reporting. These include:

• The Thunder, an illegal fishing vessel that was part of the Bandit 6, and its pursuit by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
• Maritime law enforcement against illegal fishing in Palau and Indonesia
• The Principality of Sealand, an unrecognised micronation and former pirate radio station off the coast of Sussex
• Women on Waves, an NGO that provides abortions in international waters for women in countries where they are illegal
• Stowaways in international shipping
• A Greenpeace and academic expedition by the MV Esperanza to survey the Amazon Reef in advance of plans to drill the region for oil.
• Poor working conditions and modern slavery in the fishing industry, particularly in Thailand
• Violent crime at sea, including an investigation of a clip showing a murder at sea committed by a longliner crew
• Piracy off the coast of Somalia

Reception

The book was acclaimed by critics.^[5] It was reviewed positively in The Guardian,^[2] New Statesman,^[6] NPR^[3] and The New York Times.^[7] It also entered The New York Times Best Seller list in September 2019.^[8]

Urbina's reporting adapted for the book won numerous awards as a New York Times series.

Adaptations

The book is accompanied by a musical project, The Outlaw Ocean Music Project, which involved around 200 musicians sampling field recordings from the book's research trips and creating a soundtrack.^[9][10]

Urbina also established The Outlaw Ocean Project, a non-profit journalism organisation to produce further stories about maritime crime.^[11]

A film adaptation of Urbina's reporting is in development by Netflix, set to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.^[12]

In 2022 CBC Radio and the LA Times released a seven-part podcast called The Outlaw Ocean, featuring Urbina's reportage.^[13]

References

1. "The Outlaw Ocean". The New York Times. 2015-07-25.
2. "The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina review – where murder goes unpunished". the Guardian. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
3. Iglesias, Gabino (21 August 2019). "'The Outlaw Ocean': A Forgotten Frontier Where Slavery And Illegal Activities Abound". NPR. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
4. Braverman, Blair (2019-08-19). "Pirates, Slavers and Poachers: Violence on the High Seas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
5. "Book Marks reviews of The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier by Ian Urbina". Book Marks. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
6. "The Outlaw Ocean: a cinematic voyage following criminals at sea". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
7. Braverman, Blair (2019-08-19). "Pirates, Slavers and Poachers: Violence on the High Seas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
8. "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 8, 2019 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
9. "The Outlaw Ocean Music Project". www.theoutlawoceanmusic.com. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
10. "Breathe Deeply: Music To Quiet The Mind And Inspire : All Songs Considered". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
11. "About The Outlaw Ocean Project". The Outlaw Ocean Project. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
12. Calvario, Liz (2016-06-21). "Leonardo DiCaprio To Produce Nautical Action-Thriller 'The Outlaw Ocean' For Netflix – Report". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
13. "The Outlaw Ocean". CBC Media Centre. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 June 2023.