Middleton Reef

Middleton Reef 29°27′28″S 159°7′7″E / 29.45778°S 159.11861°E / -29.45778; 159.11861Coordinates: 29°27′28″S 159°7′7″E / 29.45778°S 159.11861°E / -29.45778; 159.11861 is a coral reef in the Tasman Sea. It is separated by a deep oceanic pass some 45 km wide from nearby Elizabeth Reef, forming part of the Lord Howe Rise underwater plateau. Middleton Reef is around 220 km from Lord Howe Island and 555 km from the coast of New South Wales. In 1997 the Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Bill 1996 included Middelton Reef in Australia's Coral Sea Islands Territory.This island is included also in Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs

Middleton Reef is a platform reef and is among the southernmost platform reefs in the world. However, despite its relatively high latitude, a wide variety of flora and fauna exists both on the island and in the surrounding waters. This is due to its location where tropical and temperate ocean currents converge.

Middleton reef is about 8.9 km long by 6.3 km wide and is usually submerged. However, at low tide most of the reef flat is exposed. At high tide only one cay on the reef is visible, at one metre above sea level. The cay is called The Sound and is 100 m by 70 m.

The reefs form the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve managed by the Government of Australia under the Natural Heritage Trust.

Middleton Reef image from NASA Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project

Flora and fauna

Surveys by the Australian Institute of Marine Science have highlighted healthy number of Black Cod Epinephelus daemelii which is now a threatened species^[1] in NSW waters.^[2] The survey in 2003 highlighted some 111 species of coral and at the same time identified 181 species of fish. The total number of recorded fish species on the reef is 311 across several surveys. High numbers of Galapagos sharks Carcharhinus galapagensis were observed at Elizabeth Reef and based on size may indicate that the reef is a nursery for this species. Sea cucumber (Black teatfish), Holothuria whitmaei^[3] were also found to be in high numbers at Elizabeth reef. While the 2003 survey found only small numbers of the Crown-of-thorns starfish, a survey in 2005 has indicated that the starfish is now active on the reef.^[4]

Shipwrecks

Along with Elizabeth Reef, Middleton Reef has been the site of numerous shipwrecks. According to the National Shipwrecks Database the ships stranded include:

Middleton Reef: Agnes Napier, Annasona, Blue Jacket, Britannia, Defender, Maelgwyn, Mallsgate, Mary Lawson, Queen of the East, Stuart Russel

Some confusion exists for the location of Britannia as the National Shipwrecks Database has a listing for both Elizabeth and Middleton Reef.

See also

• Lord Howe seamount chain

References

1. ^ Black Cod net
2. ^ Marine Surveys undertaken in the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve, December 2003
3. ^ Reefbase Online Library
4. ^ AIMS Reef Monitoring Elizabeth Reef

External links

• The Uncertainties of Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs (Geopolitical Study)