Back Issue (No.1 Issue 1/2009)

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The Incredible Coral Triangle
Discovering the essence of the Coral triangle is the important first step to preserving these ecosystems.

The Pacific Ocean covers almost one-third of Earth’s surface. Its westernmost waters bathe the shores of thousands of islands as well as the continent of Asia. Having long been interested in the diversity of Pacific fish and invertebrates, scientists recently drew an imaginary line around a geographic region within the Western Pacific. They call this area “the Coral Triangle” and it includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

The Coral Triangle
What is the Coral Triangle and why are scientists so concerned with it? This region, covering over 6 million square kilometres, holds the greatest number of sponges, corals, mollusks, crustaceans and fish on Earth. Vivid colors, shapes and textures blend underwater into an untamed mixture of marine life that is like nowhere else. Over 600 reef-building corals, 3,000 fish species, sea turtles, whales and dolphins make these warm waters their home. Millions of people, who depend on fishing and tourism for their livelihoods, also live along the shores of the Coral Triangle.

The Coral Triangle is now known as the global center for marine diversity. Why are there so many fish, invertebrates, and marine plants that thrive in this area? It is amazing to think that every single animal and plant plays a role in the complex undersea food web. There are probably many reasons for the area’s giant collection of animals and plants but scientists have generally agreed on a few basic explanations.