The
Houtman Abrolhos (often informally called the
Abrolhos Islands) is a chain of 122 islands, and associated
coral reefs, in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia. Nominally located at , it lies about eighty kilometres (50 mi) west of
Geraldton, Western Australia. It is the southernmost true coral reef in the Indian Ocean, and one of the highest latitude reef systems in the world. It is one of the world's most important
seabird breeding sites, and is the centre of Western Australia's largest single species fishery, the
western rock lobster fishery. It has a small seasonal population of fishermen, and a limited number of tourists are permitted for day trips, but most of the land area is off limits as conservation habitat. It is well known as the site of numerous
shipwrecks, the most famous being the Dutch ships
Batavia, which was wrecked in 1629, and
Zeewijk, wrecked in 1727.