Coral Sea

The Coral Sea is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, lying east of Queensland, Australia. It is the largest of the world’s coral sea ecosystems and is noted for its high biodiversity, particularly its coral reefs. The Coral Sea is home to a wide range of marine life, including over 400 species of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and hundreds of species of other marine life. It is also an important breeding ground for whales, turtles, and seabirds.

Spotted ghoul – Inimicus sinensis

Black-spotted goby – Istigobius nigroocellatus

Peacock wrasse – Iniistius pavo

Decorated goby – Istigobius decoratus

Celebes razorfish – Iniistius celebicus

Stony Coral – Isopora brueggemanni

Cookie cutter shark – Isistius brasiliensis

Rippled rockskipper – Istiblennius edentulus

Ornate goby – Istigobius ornatus

Bearded ghoul – Inimicus didactylus

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Fauna

The Coral Sea is a global center of biodiversity, with high concentrations of endemic species. The Coral Sea supports over 1,500 fish species, 400 species of coral, and over 134 species of sharks and rays. The Coral Sea is known for its abundance of large marine life, including humpback whales, dugongs, sea turtles, and numerous species of sharks and rays. The Coral Sea is also home to over 1,000 species of invertebrates, including jellyfish, sea anemones, sponges, and crustaceans.

Surrounding Countries

The Coral Sea is bordered by Australia to the west, Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands to the northeast, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the east, and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands to the southeast. It is also home to several island groups, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Chesterfield Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, and the Swain Reefs.

Geography and Climate

The Coral Sea covers an area of approximately 2,000,000 square kilometers (772,205 sq mi) with a maximum depth of 9,140 meters (30,000 ft). The sea is generally warm, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius (68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). The Coral Sea is subject to the influence of the East Australian Current, which brings warm, nutrient-rich water from the tropics. The sea is also affected by the monsoon winds, which bring heavy rainfall during the summer months.

Geology

The Coral Sea is located on the continental shelf of Australia. The seabed is a mixture of sand, mud, and coral reefs. The sea is home to a number of submarine canyons, including the Capricorn Canyon, which is over 2,000 meters (6,562 ft) deep. The Coral Sea is also home to a number of active volcanoes, including the Havre Seamount, which erupted in 2012.

Threats

The Coral Sea faces a number of threats, including climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. Climate change is causing the sea to warm and become more acidic, which is harming coral reefs. Pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and shipping is also a major threat to the health of the Coral Sea. Overfishing is depleting fish stocks and harming the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem. Habitat destruction, such as dredging, oil and gas exploration, and the construction of ports, is also a threat to the Coral Sea.