To the east of the Great Barrier Reef lies a tropical marine jewel: the Coral Sea. Its crystal clear waters are home to huge fish that dominate the ecosystem, like lions of the African plains. The pristine islets and cays are both breeding ground and nursery for turtles and seabirds. It is home to a diversity of species from majestic humpback whales to dainty reef fish. Once the arena for the Battle of the Coral Sea, this iconic region now remains a refuge for marine wildlife.

In late 2008, a campaign was launched to protect this near pristine environment in an Australian Coral Sea Heritage Park. At one million square kilometres, it would be the world’s largest marine park. With less than 0.1% of the world’s oceans highly protected, this would be an unparalleled contribution to global marine conservation.