Tropical Marine Life of Australia is the definitive guide to tropical Australian and central Indo-Pacific marine life, covering over 2,400 species of animals and plants. Groups covered include seaweeds, corals, molluscs, crustaceans, fishes, reptiles and mammals. The characteristics of each species are outlined, including distinguishing features, distribution and rarity. This indispensable guide covers all common species likely to be encountered by divers and shoreline ramblers, and also many of the more rare species or those with an unusual appearance or lifestyle.

Covering almost 1,100 species, often with multiple images for important life stages, this field guide represents the most comprehensive collectionof the tropical fishes found on Australian reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Ningaloo Reef, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.Many of the species covered are also found widely throughout the Indo- Pacific, from the Red Sea, up to Japan and across to French Polynesia, and travellers will also find this book handy, particularly for popular tropical South Pacific destinations.Authors Rick Stuart-Smith, Graham Edgar, Andrew Green and Ian Shaw have decades worth of collective experience studying andphotographing reef fishes around the world, especially through their contributions to the Reef Life Survey program (www.reeflifesurvey.com).

"Anyone fascinated by the underwater world will be riveted by the photos in this richly illustrated guide... Readers can lose themselves in the magnificent environment beneath the sea...." --Publishers Weekly on the first edition of Reef Life The lure of the life that inhabits the ocean's reefs and open waters is no secret to scuba enthusiasts and snorkelers who enjoy gazing upon this wonderful world through their dive masks. This practical and comprehensive guidebook for divers, naturalists and ocean lovers identifies the most commonly encountered animals and other organisms in the tropical marine environment and identifies them in more than 1,000 beautiful color photographs to provide a window into this magnificent world. This updated edition features new photos, 33 new species profiles and an extended chapter about the state of the ocean and reefs on our rapidly changing planet. Reef Life is a handy, portable and comprehensive reference in a time when understanding and appreciating the diversity of our tropical oceans is at a critical point. A gallery of over 425 ray-finned fish species, as well as elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates), invertebrates, marine reptiles and marine mammals, offers readers an extensive identification guide to the most commonly seen marine species, with detailed descriptions of size, habitat, range and behavior. The book also includes: A guide to tropical marine ecosystems; Surveys of global coral reef communities, from the Caribbean to the Red Sea; A discussion about factors threatening marine ecosystems today. This is an essential selection for marine science and travel/tourism collections, scuba divers and snorkelers, and retailers and libraries in oceanside locations.

The world’s oceans cover about 70% of our planet. To safeguard the delicate ecological and environmental functions of the oceans and their remarkable biodiversity, networks of marine protected areas are being created. In some of these areas, human activity is restricted to non-exploitative activities and in others it is managed in a sustainable way. Australia is at the forefront of marine conservation, with one of the largest systems of marine protected areas in the world. Big, Bold and Blue: Lessons from Australia’s Marine Protected Areas captures Australia’s experience, sharing important lessons from the Great Barrier Reef and many other extraordinary marine protected areas. It presents real-world examples, leading academic research, perspectives on government policy, and information from indigenous sea country management, non-governmental organisations, and commercial and recreational fishing sectors. The lessons learnt during the rapid expansion of Australia’s marine protected areas, both positive and negative, will aid and advise other nations in their own marine conservation efforts.

Many people recognise the beauty and diversity of plant and animal communities in Australia's tropical seas, particularly those along the Great Barrier Reef. By contrast, relatively few know about the immense variety along the southern half of the continent. Now in soft cover, this book describes 1,450 of the most commonly seen plants and animals of the region and includes notes on their habitat and distribution; 1,500 full colour photographs and a wealth of information for academic biologists, divers, beachcombers

This phenomenally successful guide to the wealth and variety of fish in Australia’s tropical waters — including the Great Barrier Reef — and south-east Asia has been updated and expanded. The book has sold more than 20,000 copies in its previous editions, and is an invaluable reference for divers and anglers, to both scientists and the lay person; to everyone with an interest in our remarkable tropical fish. Full colour illustrations by leading Australian marine artists, Roger Swainton and Jill Ruse, make identification easy. The author has also included an edibility guide.