Maharashtra is the third largest state in the country both in terms of size and population and is bordered by the Arabian Sea in the west with a coastline of 720 km. The coast of Maharashtra popularly known as Konkan coast is characterized by short inter-tidal areas dominated with rock pools, sandy beachs, rocky shores, estuaries and mud flats and parches of mangroves and other wetland types.
The coastal region of the Maharashtra state has five districts viz. Thane, Greater Bombay, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhdurg. The entire region is hilly, narrow, highly dissected with transverse ridges of the Sahyadris hill ranges (Western Ghats) and at many places extending as promontories, notches, sea caves, embayment, submerged shoals and offshore islands. Off the total length of the Maharashtra coast, about 15 rivers, 5 major creeks and 30 backwater regions have been reported (Jagtap et al., 1994).

 Pictorial guide will contain brief description of various marine habitats, marine biodiversity hotspots and some interesting and fascinating facts of marine life with examples. It will illustrate appx. 350 species in colour from various marine groups like sponges, sea anemones, jellyfishes, corals, marine worms, crustaceans, sea shells, sea slugs, cephalopods, sea cucumbers, starfishes, brittle stars, sea urchins, feather stars, tunicates, fishes, marine reptiles like sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals. It will have a small section of mangroves as well. The book will have a brief glossary.