Moreton Bay

For the local government area, see City of Moreton Bay. For the locality that contains part of the bay and its islands, see Moreton Bay, Queensland.

Moreton Bay
Quandamooka
Satellite photo of Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay and the Brisbane metropolitan area
A map of Queensland, Australia with a mark indicating the location of Moreton Bay
A map of Queensland, Australia with a mark indicating the location of Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Location of Moreton Bay in South East Queensland
LocationSouth East Queensland
Coordinates27°15′S 153°15′E / 27.250°S 153.250°E / -27.250; 153.250
EtymologyIn honour of Lord Morton
River sources
Ocean/sea sourcesCoral Sea
Catchment area21,220 km2 (8,190 sq mi)
Basin countriesAustralia
Max. length125 km (78 mi)
Max. width35 km (22 mi)
Surface area1,523 km2 (588 sq mi)
Average depth6.8 m (22 ft)
Frozennever
Islands
SettlementsBrisbane
Designated22 October 1993
Reference no.631[1]

Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from central Brisbane, Queensland.[2] It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources.[3] The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are used by commercial operators who provide seafood to market.

The Port of Brisbane coordinates large traffic along the shipping channel which crosses the northern section of the bay. The bay serves as a safe approach to the airport and reduces noise pollution over the city to the west of the runway. A number of barge, ferry and water-taxi services also travel over the bay.

Moreton Bay was the site of conflict between the Quandamooka people and early European settlers. It contains environmentally significant habitats and large areas of sandbanks. The bay is the only place in Australia where dugong gather into herds. Many parts of the mainland foreshore and southern islands are settled.

The waters of Moreton Bay are relatively calm, being sheltered from large swells by Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island.[4] In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Moreton Bay was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "Natural attraction".[5] Moreton Bay is a Pacific Ocean Hope Spot.[2]

  1. ^ "Moreton Bay". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mbtb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ South East Queensland Regional Strategic Group (2000). Strategic Guide to Natural Resource Management in South East Queensland. Department of Natural Resources. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7345-1740-1.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference mbs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.