The vast expanses of ocean that cover about 70% of our planet have been negatively affected by fishing, pollution and, increasingly, by climate change. To mitigate these effects and safeguard the delicate ecologicaland environmental functions of oceans and their remarkable biodiversity, international agreements haveled to the ongoing creation of marine protected areas around the world. In some of these areas, humanactivity is prohibited and in others it is managed in a sustainable way. Australia is at the forefront of marineconservation, 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 much of Australia sexperience, sharing important lessons from the Great Barrier Reef and many other extraordinary marineprotected areas. It presents real-world examples, leading academic research, perspectives on governmentpolicy, and information from Indigenous sea country management, non-governmental organizations, andcommercial and recreational fishing sectors. The lessons learnt during the rapid expansion of Australia smarine protected areas, both positive and negative, will aid and advise other nations in their own marineconservation efforts.FEATURES" Includes a Foreword by Australian novelist Tim Winton Authors explain and explore their experience in Marine Protected Areas development, allowing a readerto learn from the practitioner s real world experience"