Coral Sea
The Coral Sea region covers 989 842 square kilometres of Australian waters and seabed east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, out to the edge of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone.
About the Coral Sea
About the region
Staying up to date
Map of the Coral Sea
Source: ERIN
About the Coral Sea
The Coral Sea region covers waters east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is a remote ocean ecosystem recognised for its unique physical, ecological and heritage values. The nearest point is approximately 60 kilometres from the coast and extends out to 1100 kilometres. These offshore waters range from just north of the tip of Cape York south to offshore waters just north of Bundaberg in Queensland. It extends from depths of less than 15 metres around shallow reefs and cays to almost five kilometres in remote, little known deep ocean environments. The Coral Sea region includes two existing Commonwealth marine reserves - Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve and Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve. It adjoins the Exclusive Economic Zones of two of the Coral Triangle countries in the north - Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands - and New Caledonia in the east.
The Coral Sea is internationally recognised for its rich biodiversity and important heritage values. It encompasses sandy cays, coral reefs and the abundant marine life they support. In May 2009, the area of the Coral Sea under Australia's jurisdiction was declared a Conservation Zone to provide interim protection while the area is being assessed for possible inclusion in one or more Commonwealth marine reserves.
Background
The East Bioregional Profile, which includes the Coral Sea was released in May 2009. It brings together, for the first time, the best available information on the marine environment of the region. It focuses on the region's natural assets, and it describes the ecological characteristics, conservation values, and the human activities that take place in the region. The Profile also explains how new marine reserves will be identified. A number of information resources were developed to prepare the Bioregional Profile.
The Coral Sea Conservation Zone was established in May 2009. It provides interim protection to an area of the Coral Sea while it is being assessed for possible inclusion in one or more Commonwealth marine reserves through the marine bioregional planning process.
Contact
The Director
Temperate East Marine Conservation
Marine Division
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Edgar Waite Building
203 Channel Highway
Kingston TAS 7050
or
Email: East.MarinePlan@environment.gov.au
About marine bioregional planning
Marine bioregional planning is being implemented in five large marine regions.