Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay Quandamooka
Some features in north of the bay
Location of Moreton Bay in South East Queensland
Location	South East Queensland
Coordinates	27°15′S 153°15′E / 27.250°S 153.250°E / -27.250; 153.250Coordinates: 27°15′S 153°15′E / 27.250°S 153.250°E / -27.250; 153.250
Etymology	In honour of Lord Morton
River sources	Caboolture River Pine River Brisbane River Logan River Albert River Pimpama River
Ocean/sea sources	Coral Sea
Catchment area	21,220 km2 (8,190 sq mi)
Basin countries	Australia
Max. length	125 km (78 mi)
Max. width	35 km (22 mi)
Surface area	1,523 km2 (588 sq mi)
Average depth	6.8 m (22 ft)
Frozen	never
Islands	Moreton Island Southern Moreton Bay Islands Coochiemudlo Island Peel Island Bribie Island North Stradbroke Island South Stradbroke Island
Settlements	Brisbane

The Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. 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 indigenous 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.

Moreton Bay is described as lagoonal because of the existence of a series of off-shore barrier islands that restrict the flow of oceanic water. The tidal range is moderate at 1.5–2 metres (4 ft 11 in–6 ft 7 in) in range. Moreton Bay has an average depth of 6.8 metres (22 ft). This shallow depth lets light filter through to the seafloor, allowing an array of marine plants to grow which support a diverse range of fauna. The bay itself covers 1,523 square kilometres (588 sq mi) and has a catchment area 14 times larger, covering 21,220 square kilometres (8,190 sq mi). The waters of the bay are mostly blue in colour. Western parts of the bay are sometimes tinted green from algae, brown from suspended sediments or yellow-brown from humic runoff.

Moreton Bay was formed roughly 6000 years ago as the sea level rose and inundated what was then the floodplains of the Brisbane River. Moreton Bay and its islands were inhabited by indigenous tribes. In indigenous economy was very rich, one of the strongest for its productive yields of edible natural resources on the Australian continent. Of particular importance for the intertribal trade and ceremonial life were in particular massive oyster beds, the annual mullet catch, and bunya nut harvesting, on the coast and inland, which led to annual migrations either way to enjoy the abundance of the respective tribal group's territory. In the 1840s, resident white administrators estimated the aboriginal population of the area to be around 4,000. They were only outnumbered with the influx over the five year period of 1850-1855 with saw the disembarkation of 3,000 European migrants on their land.