The marine biodiversity of the archipelago is exceptional with 9,372 identified species including rare and endemic species. We are in a veritable sanctuary.The New Caledonian reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world after Australia. Out of a total area of 23,400 km2, some 15,000 km2 representing six sites have been listed since 2008 as World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Besides this large ensemble, there are other notable reef structures such as that of the Ile Ouvéa, the pseudo-atoll of Beautemps-Beaupré, the two large plateaus of Chesterfield and Bellona
The coral reefs of New Caledonia have been recognized by the international scientific community as having characters of outstanding universal value. This wealth is of course the incredible diversity of coral formations: 150 types of coral reefs in the New Caledonian lagoon have been listed in the 965 studies on the planet.
Magnificent playground for humans, the lagoon is above all a jewel where life defies the imagination: 454 species of marine plants, 1,965 species of fish, 2,150 species of molluscs, and 4,000 species of crustaceans ... that served as the natural backdrop for the movie Oceans produced by Opus produced by Opus directed by the French producer Jacques Perrin.
The New Caledonian lagoon is home to major nesting sites for marine turtles and breeding areas for endangered or emblematic species: dugongs, humpback whales, seabirds .Finally, inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage is both a recognition and a guarantee of preservation of many endemic molluscs, but also of critical marine habitats such as mangroves and sea grass beds, and a large number of marine wildlife and plant species.
Coral Reefs
The lagoon
