Luconia Shoal

Luconia Shoals National Park is a marine national park in the South China Sea, about 163 to 180 km off the Sarawak coast. It covers over one million hectares, making it the largest marine national park in Malaysia^[1].

Surveys along the Sarawak coast have recorded more than 30 shark and 44 ray species; the figures are for the state's waters rather than this park alone. Reef fish, wrasses, groupers, sea turtles and dolphins are named as vital to the South China Sea's health^[1].

The park is a shoal and reef system; its coral reefs are its main habitat.

The park lies over the Sunda Continental Shelf, and several of its reefs are exposed at low tide^[1].

The park is open sea in the tropical South China Sea.

The shoals lie within Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone.

The park was gazetted effective 18 October 2018 and published in the Sarawak Gazette on 17 January 2019. It forms part of Malaysia's effort to protect 10% of its national waters^[1].

The park's attraction is its offshore reefs.

The park lies far offshore from Miri and is reached by boat.

The Wildlife Conservation Society supplied scientific data on marine biodiversity, especially sharks and rays, for the designation, which may also create ecotourism opportunities^[1].