Part encyclopedia, part coffee table book, part testimonial—this ambitious volume on the reefs of Australia surprises and delights. The volume makes it immediately obvious that Australia's marine heritage goes far beyond its fabled Great Barrier Reef, with a variety of morphologically and ecologically different reef systems found off virtually all the continent's coasts. Essay-like contributions are accompanied by stunning and sometimes unusual images, such as the decline-in-action photographs overlaying a large bleached coral head with one subsequently colonized by algae (pp. 272–273), the dramatic aerial photograph of contained coral spawn developing into larvae (pp. 292–293), or the graphic showing the connectivity between estuaries and offshore reefs (p. 162).
This is not a compendium on coral species in the style of J.E.N. Veron's landmark 1993 work Corals of Australia and the IndoPacific, and neither is it a coherent story of reef life akin to Charles Birkland's eloquent book Life and Death of Coral Reefs, from 1997. Instead, it is a combination of science and storytelling, presenting a variety of perspectives in diverse styles of writing.
The volume begins with brief but illuminating geomorphological and biological descriptions of the many varied reef systems around Australia's coasts and further afield in places such as Cocos and Christmas Islands. Starting with Western Australia rather than the Great Barrier Reef is unexpected and refreshing.
In a few places, the contributors appear to assume background knowledge that readers may not necessarily possess; for example, mass coral bleaching is first mentioned on page 8 but not explained until page 146. Similarly, the map on page 29, and a few others, make it difficult to locate specific reef systems described in the text, perhaps because the authors assume readers are already familiar with the geography of these marine systems. But these are minor shortcomings that do not detract from the book's broader value.
The oral histories of Indigenous Peoples, reaching back 60,000 years or more, provide an important perspective on the corals of Australia, and much of the book brings this view into focus for those accustomed to a western or more mechanistic understanding of reefs. A quote in the preface by Ian McCalman makes this point early on: ‘coral reefs are also products of human perception that have been imagined into existence down the millennia’. By bringing in perspectives of Aboriginal people and Traditional Owners, the book encourages us to think differently about reefs, much like Philip E. Steinberg's The Social Construction of the Ocean prompted natural scientists to rethink their characterization of the sea and contemplate the cognitive and cultural biases that influence how we assess, communicate about and relate to nature. Several entries speak to The Dreaming as a process of relatedness, whereby reefs are associated with certain clans, and patrilineal clans ‘hold’ the country. It is hard to imagine a more solid foundation for effective stewardship of reefs.
These reflections on the different relationships people have with reefs (and reefs have with people) sit in stark contrast to a later section of the book entitled Scientists as Advocates for Australia's Coral Reefs. Giving a history of scientist-led study and management of reefs in Australia, including the ontogeny of the Australian Coral Reef Society and the Great Barrier Reef Committee, the chapter notes the advice given by coral reef scientists in development projects and the role Australian scientists have played in shaping our understanding of reefs worldwide. Surprisingly—especially given the book's title—there is no mention of social scientists, nor any other ways of knowing that have equal value in improving our understanding of and driving advocacy for protecting reefs.
The subsequent section on Conservation and Protection of Australia's Coral Reefs is filled with colorful storytelling, fitting for a history of conservation that is neither linear nor conventional. This section is honest and revealing, exposing not only good intentions but also the unintended consequences of conservation advocacy and government policy. This then sets up the final section of the book entitled A Changing Climate for Australian Reefs, which, although supported by data and citations of scientific publications, begs the question whether planners and managers are being realistic and honest about the uncertainties that lie ahead. It also left me wondering whether in Australia—although this applies equally anywhere else—we are capable of learning from past mistakes and creating a more sustainable future.
Open access
