Review by Choice Review
This is the second major work on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to appear within the past year. Although the first (The Great Barrier Reef: Finding the Right Balance, by David Lawrence, Richard Kenchington, and Simon Woodley, 2002) was devoted to the establishment of the GBR Marine Park and its conservation problems, this one is primarily a historic treatise. It begins with the discoveries made by the early Portuguese and Spanish navigators, continues with the voyage of Captain Cook and subsequent expeditions, and then examines recent scientific work. The coverage is broad enough to provide readers with an authoritative history of the exploration of the general South Pacific area. The final two chapters are devoted to the current status of the GBR and its multiple management problems. There are 16 pages of good photographic illustrations. The book reflects competent scholarship and will be useful as supplemental reading for courses on conservation in the marine environment. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. J. C. Briggs emeritus, University of Georgia
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
