Flinders Reef is a small isolated reef near Moreton Island, 5 kilometres (3 mi) north-east of Cape Moreton in South East Queensland, Australia.[1] It has the highest number of coral species of any subtropical reef system along Australia's east coast and is the nearest true coral reef to Brisbane. Flinders Reef is one of South East Queensland's most popular dive sites.[2] The reef is located within the Moreton Bay Marine Park and is monitored by the Reef Check conservation program.[citation needed] The reef is located within the Tweed–Moreton marine biogeographic region.
There is a second Flinders Reef in the Coral Sea 120 nautical miles (220 km) north-east of Townsville. A weather station there is monitored by the Australian Government.[3] A third Flinders Reef exists offshore from the town of 1770.
Fauna
editThe reef has more than 175 fish species.[4] There are more species and varieties of corals in this one area than any other single reef on the Great Barrier Reef. The diverse amount of marine life include schools of wrasse, sweetlip, trevally, parrotfish, bat, surgeon, turtles and tropical fish. Manta rays, wobbegongs and leopard sharks are among the larger creatures that reside here. Sightings of whaler sharks are sometimes seen on the eastern side of Flinders. During the months of June to September, humpback whales can be seen on the surface as they pass by.
The Australian bluefish, Sixgill stingray, the rare Narrowbar swellshark have been found on the reef.
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School of fish -
Crayfish -
History
editThe reef is named after Matthew Flinders who discovered the reef before discovering what would become the city of Brisbane.
In 1986 the Australian Army ship Crusader (AV2767) was sunk near the reef and has become a popular dive wreck. The reef was zoned as a marine park in 1998. The reef was not affected by the 2009 southeast Queensland oil spill.[2]
The reef is often the location for small fishing boat wrecks, and rarely, diving incidents including the death of a Brisbane man in March 2005.[5] It was the site of a helicopter rescue after a dive ship ran aground on the reef in December 2008.[6]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Flinders Reef (entry 12779)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ a b Seanna Cronin (17 March 2009). "Flinders Reef escapes oil slick". goldcoast.com.au. Gold Coast Publications. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
- ^ "Latest Coastal Weather Observations Flinders Reef". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ "Dive Flinders Reef, Moreton Bay Marine Park". Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ Jodie Munro O'Brien (26 February 2008). "Fine over Moreton dive death". couriermail.com.au. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
- ^ "Police attempt to rescue crew from dive boat". couriermail.com.au. Queensland Newspapers. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2008.