The Coral Triangle


If coral reefs are the rainforests of the seas, then the Coral Triangle is the underwater equivalent of the Amazon. This is a bioregion that’s half the size of the United States, passes through six countries (the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands and East Timor), and harbours more marine species than anywhere else on the planet. There are single reefs in the Coral Triangle that contain more species than the entire Caribbean. When it comes to abundance and sheer scale, nowhere else comes close to the Coral Triangle.

The Coral Triangle can claim an impressive list of superlatives – it’s home to 76% of all known coral species, more than 3000 species of fish and 6 out of 7 of the world’s turtle species.That’s why the bioregion isquickly gaining a global profile as one of the planet’s most valuable natural assets, comparable to the Amazon. Just as the Amazon is the figurehead of the world’s rainforests – the so-called lungs of the earth – the Coral Triangle is developing iconic status as a marine treasure – the wellspring of the world’s oceans.

With its numerous natural attributes, growing stature as a destination, exuberant mix of marine based cultures and globally significant status as a fishery, the Coral Triangle makes for fascinating subject matter. There are sharks that walk the ocean bed, marine nomads who spend their lives at sea, constant new species discoveries and incredible destinations waiting to be uncovered. And with the growing awareness of the crisis facing the world’s oceans – and more specifically coral reef ecosystems – the need to highlight the impacts of overfishing, pollution and climate change has never been keener.

 

The Website

The Coral Triangle website is a non-profit enterprise supported by the WWF that tells the story of this million square kilometre marine bioregion in words, pictures and video. The site features photo stories by leading photographers and upcoming talent, hard hitting features by journalists and experts in their field as well as short narrative films and beautifully shot underwater video.

There’s a strong emphasis on travel, with stories, insights and helpful tips on some of the region’s most beguiling destinations, dive paradises and surf spots written by industry insiders, travel writers and locals. Our tourism portal is a quick and easy way for visitors to find out about the best responsible travel experience in the region, from live-aboard cruises to spa hotels, dive resorts to budget beach cabanas.

We’re developing partnerships with a wide range of media, non-profits, the travel industry and institutions that care about ocean conservation. The Coral Triangle is quickly entering the public consciousness as more and more people discover just how unique the bioregion is. Filmmakers are working on documentaries about singular maritime cultures and the abundance of marine species that live here.

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