A Marine wetland of Natural origin located in the Wet Zone of the Southern province. Unawatuna contains a shallow coral reef as well as numerous rocky reef habitats. The beach is popular for tourism and surrounding reefs are popular for diving and snorkelling. The area has now been selected as a site for Special Area Management by the CCD.

The reef is located within Unawatuna Bay , less than 50m from the beach and is partially protected by a headland. It does not have a distinguishable reef crest and slope, although a small reef crest and sheltered inner reef area is found at the western end. Coral patches exist throughout the Unawatuna Bay, but most are found towards the western shore of the bay at depths between 1-5m. A group of rocky islets is located at the mouth of the bay. The reef was dominated by tabulate Acropora and branching Pocillopora with a live coral cover of nearly 50%, but most corals were killed during the El Ni?o related coral bleaching event in 1998. Some Acropora and Pocillopora have recovered from bleaching while large stands of Porites are also found around the rocky islets. The fish community is dominated by damselfishes (Pomacentridae) and wrasses (Labridae). Among the reef fish, Chlorurus rhakoura and Pomacentrus proteus are restricted to Sri Lanka , while Cheilinus undulates is globally endangered. Five species of globally endangered marine turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata, Chelonia mydas, Lepidochelys olivacea, Caretta caretta and Dermochelys coriacea) visit the reef. Tourism is the dominant activity in the area and the coastal area is dominated by hotels, restaurants and shops. Fishing is carried out mostly in offshore waters while collection of ornamental fish is carried out on the fringing reef as well as offshore reefs.

Unawatuna Reef Related references