Still compact and the perfect size for travelling, Pacific Reef & Shore has been updated with new species, up-to-date scientific information and many brilliant photographs of the more than 300 common plants and animals found in the intertidal zone off the coast of North America—from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to Point Conception, California. Each entry includes a description summary with information on size and habitat, and a photo for species verification, giving readers an overview of local sea life without weighing them down as they explore the shore.

The world's oceans contain mysteries that scientists are discovering every day. While the depths of the Pacific may seem a world away, the intertidal zones are at the fingertips of any diver, kayaker or beach stroller curious about the various plants and wildlife that dwell there. Lightweight, inexpensive and accessible, Pacific Reef & Shore is the indispensable reference for any curious visitor to the shore.

Rick M. Harbo, BSc, is the author of the bestselling Tidepool and Reef (Big Country Books, 1980), Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest (Harbour Publishing, 1997), Pacific Reef and Shore (Harbour Publishing, 2017) and the award-winning Whelks to Whales (Harbour Publishing, 2011). Harbo is a diver and a retired senior marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He currently volunteers as a research associate with the Royal BC Museum. Harbo lives in Nanaimo, BC.

Rick M. Harbo's profile page

“This is a wonderfully easy-to-use guide to marine life from Alaska to California… I recommend this book; it will increase your knowledge of local marine life and may instill a greater appreciation for the beautiful and fragile environment we’re fortunate enough to live in.”

Nexus Newspaper

"The simplicity and clarity of both description and photos make this guide an excellent choice for family outings."
-Diana Mumford, Wave Length

Wave Length

"This is an ideal guide for the scuba diver."
-William Schleihauf, The Northern Mariner

The Northern Mariner

"When my summer visitors arrive and we're wading at the tideline or canoeing over the eelgrass, I'll have Harbo's guidebook handy to settle those inevitable arguments over names for this or that sea critter. His photos and descriptions will definitely incite everyone to look closely at the ocean's treasures."
-Carolyn Redl, Times Colonist

Times Colonist

"Now you'll know the difference between a hairy lithode and a golf-ball lithode, a wrinkled star and a cushion star."
-Dan Hays, Statesman Journal

Statesman Journal

"Pacific Reef & Shore is the indispensable reference for any curious visitor to the shore and will prove to be a prized addition to personal, community, and academic library collections.”

Midwest Book Review

"I find this book comprehensive, easy to use, compact, well laid-out, and beautifully illustrated."
-Annie Prud'homme-Genereux, BC Naturalist

BC Naturalist