Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecusse exclave on the north-western half, and the minor islands of Atauro and Jaco. Australia is the country’s southern neighbour, separated by the Timor Sea.

Coastal ecosystems around the country are diverse and vary spatially between the north / south coastlines, as well as between the eastern tip and areas more to the west. These ecosystems include coral
reefs, as the country’s waters are part of the Coral
Triangle biodiversity hotspot.

Timor-Leste’s waters boast exceptional biodiversity, including extensive fisheries and healthy coral reefs. Twenty-five species of whales and dolphins frequent these waters — among the highest records of cetaceans in the world. This rich stretch of ocean underpins the food security and economic well-being. Managed well, whale and dolphin tourism could also generate significant income. Threats to dugongs and their seagrass habitat in Timor-Leste include deforestation, over-fishing and both targeted and accidental by-catch, and destructive development activities.

The marine life here, however, still faces threats of illegal fishing and resource extraction projects. There is still much to be done to strengthen legislation to protect marine biodiversity.