Book Review

Malcolm Francis’ Coastal Fishes of New Zealand has always been the “go-to” book for divers and aqua-enthusiasts.

Malcolm Francis’ Coastal Fishes of New Zealand has always been the “go-to” book for divers and aqua-enthusiasts for identifying the fish inhabiting our coastal waters. I wasn’t the only person eagerly awaiting the arrival of the latest edition, as evidenced by multiple Facebook posts announcing the impending release of the new edition of the revered book. When my brand new, hot off the press, fifth edition of Coastal Fishes of New Zealand materialised on my doorstep, expectations were high.

This edition surpasses the preceding fourth edition by containing 20% more fish species and updated scientific information. It is beautifully presented and illustrated with 340 splendid colour photos of 267 fish species in their natural habitats. Malcolm Francis shares his decades of experience as a marine biologist with photo(s), Māori and scientific names and a distribution map provided for each fish. The book provides information on fish size, habitat, feeding, spawning and behaviour in an easily understood format which is ideal for non marine biologists.
As a scuba diver who often struggles to identify the fish I see, I could swiftly put this book to good use, differentiating the various triplefins I’d seen on a recent Wellington dive. The book lived up to the hype and will be a handy and trusted companion on dive expeditions around Aotearoa.

I can see this book rapidly appearing as a well-thumbed reference in dive shops, on dive boats and in homes across the motu. It is a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in fish identification in Aotearoa.

Disclaimer: I have no scientific knowledge about fish or marine biology qualifications!