Arafura Sea Borders: Australia's Northern Territory and Indonesia's Seram, Ambon, and Aru Islands

The **Arafura Sea** is a shallow continental shelf sea (average depth 50–80 m, max 365 m) lying between northern Australia and western New Guinea. It forms part of the Australasian Mediterranean Sea, connecting the Pacific (via Torres Strait) and Indian Oceans.

Jurisdictions Touched

• Australia: **Northern Territory** coastline (Arnhem Land, Cobourg Peninsula, Melville & Bathurst Islands). Key settlements: Darwin (on Beagle Gulf, connected), Nhulunbuy (Gove Peninsula).
• Indonesia: **Maluku Province** islands forming the northern boundary:
  • Seram (largest, mountainous, Manusela NP).
  • Ambon (volcanic, provincial capital Ambon City).
  • Aru Islands (archipelago ~95 low-lying islands; pearl farming, birdlife).
• Papua New Guinea: Southwestern coast (Western Province) – though often considered Torres Strait / Gulf of Papua transition.

Significance

• Fisheries: Major shrimp, demersal, and tuna grounds (shared stocks).
• Biodiversity: Coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves; dugongs, turtles, sawfish.
• Resources: Oil/gas (Bayu-Undan, Greater Sunrise – Joint Petroleum Development Area with Timor-Leste).
• Maritime Boundaries: 1972 Australia-Indonesia Seabed Agreement; 1997 Water Column Agreement (EEZ).
• Climate: Monsoonal; cyclone genesis region.

The Arafura Sea is a shared marine domain—ecologically rich, resource-rich, and geopolitically sensitive.