The Biggest Conservation Success Story You’ve Never Heard Of!

(Washington, D.C. – June 24, 2025) In a year awash with grim climate headlines, one “impossible” success story has slipped beneath the surface: once-collapsed fisheries have begun roaring back to health, and those who once fought to catch the last fish are now leading the rescue. 

On September 23, Torrey House Press will publish Sea Change: Unlikely Allies and a Success Story of Oceanic Proportions by Amanda Leland and James Workman, a propulsive narrative of conflict, conversion, and unexpected cooperation that rewrites the playbook for environmental victories.

“Finally, some good news! An uplifting read that will leave you hopeful about people, our planet, and the power of working together.” —CAROLEE HAZARD, Kepler’s Bookstore

The Twist

For decades, overfishing was the textbook tragedy. Nets emptied, docks quieted, and every fix sparked another fight. Then an unthinkable coalition of hard-nosed captains, hard-data scientists, hard-pressed regulators, and hard-driving environmentalists, tore up the rulebook and built something better. Sea Change takes readers inside that turnaround through protagonist Texas Gulf Coast legend Keith “Buddy” Guindon, who once fought catch shares and now champions the very system he tried to sink.

“More than a fish tale, this story offers proof that when bitter rivals get out of the courtroom and onto the same boat, they can land something extraordinary,” said Amanda Leland, co-author and Executive Director of Environmental Defense Fund. “It’s a story of grit, human agency, and practical fixes that have powerful implications for other thorny conflicts ranging from water scarcity and deforestation to biodiversity loss and climate change.”

"Sea Change reveals how those most tied to the sea can, must, and are becoming its greatest protectors. This book will change how you see the ocean—and those who live by it.” —CARL SAFINA, Alfie & Me

Why It Matters

Oceans feed three billion people and stabilize the planet’s climate. Sea Change shows how cooperation among fishers, scientists, and watchdogs reversed the course of one of the world’s toughest economic problems  resulting in healthier seas, thriving coastal economies, and a blueprint for tackling other “impossible” crises.

James Workman, co-author, adds: “People set out to replenish valuable fish populations and stumbled onto something even rarer: trust. In a world starved of it, this book shows how rebuilding trust can replenish the planet’s most depleted resources—and our faith in each other.”

“Leland and Workman make a convincing case that empowering fishermen to work together, even as they compete, can create miracles.” —BILL MCKIBBEN, The End of Nature

Sea Change proves that good news still swims in deep water—and that the next wave of environmental wins will come from the most unlikely crews.

MORE PRAISE FOR SEA CHANGE:

"Sea Change is both an antidote to environmental gloom and a fair, deeply informed, and fun read.” —TINA ROSENBERG, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner

"Sea Change shows us what’s possible when seemingly irreconcilable opponents find common ground and work together on a solution that benefits everyone.”  —DR. ENRIC SALA, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and founder of Pristine Seas

“In this fascinating read, commercial fishermen and environmental scientists overcome mutual distrust to bring about a reversal in fortune of our most important source of protein.” —STAN DRUCKENMILLER, Investor, Duquesne Capital

“Sea Change tells us the greatest environmental success story that no one’s ever heard of.” —ERIC POOLEY, The Climate War

“The authors do a spectacular job of capturing the promise, peril, personalities, and pioneering efforts to make fisheries sustainable and profitable in ways that work for fishermen and fish.” —JANE LUBCHENCO, former Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

For advance review copies, interviews, or high-resolution cover art, please contact Negin Janati.

About the Authors
Amanda Leland is the Executive Director of Environmental Defense Fund.
James Workman is an award-winning author and founder of AquaShares.

About Torrey House Press
Torrey House Press publishes voices for an open land and a healthy planet, giving readers reason to hope—and tools to act.