Assessment of coral reef biodiversity in the Coral Sea

Australia’s Coral Sea borders the Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Tasman Front. Globally, the Coral Sea is considered to be among the last remaining ‘pristine’ seas with relatively low human impact. The remoteness of its coral reefs means that despite occasional ecological surveys, a comprehensive inventory of coral reef assemblages has been largely lacking. Much of the broader Coral Sea region lies within the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR), which includes the former Coral Sea Conservation Zone, former Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve, and former Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve.