Lying at the junction of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, the Sulu-Sulawesi seas are home to the highest diversity of fish and coral anywhere in the world. Characterised by a wide range of seascapes including estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, atolls, reefs and seagrass beds, these waters are the submarine rainforests at the heart of the Indo-Pacific.

Encompassing an area of about a million square kilometers, the Sulu-Sulawesi seas are patrolled by the likes of the world's largest fish (whale shark), the world's smallest (pygmy) seahorse, dugongs, saltwater crocodiles and countless species of fish, invertebrates, anemeone and coral.

The Sulu-Sulawesi seas are threatened by overfishing, coastal erosion, sedimentation, coral mining and the aquarium trade. Habitat destruction is further accelerated by dynamite and cyanide fishing, global warming and irresponsible tourism.

For more information and images, contact timaldred@naturepl.com

Single-photographer portfolios from this region can be browsed under the search terms "Jurgen Freund Sulawesi" or "Constantinos Petrinos Sulawesi".

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