Indispensable Reefs

Administratively the Indispensable Reef belongs to the Rennell and Bellona Province of Solomon Islands.

[citation needed] The three atolls are steep-to and each encloses a large deep lagoon.

[citation needed] During the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 May 1942, two Japanese carrier attack planes B5N2 (EI-306 and probably EI-302) flying reconnaissance mission from the carrier Shokaku ditched on Indispensable Reef due to lack of fuel.

[2] In 1983, the Solomon Islands Government apprehended a vessel from Taiwan that had been poaching the giant clam stocks around Indispensable Reef.

[3] Corals and endangered fish species are also being plundered for the aquarium trade.

The Indispensable Reefs are located south of Rennell Island
Satellite picture of the three atolls forming the Indispensable Reef, North Reef is to the right.
Japanese B5N torpedo bomber (aircraft number EI-306) wrecked on Indispensable Reefs