# Benham Bank

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**Benham Bank** is an [ocean bank](/source/Ocean_bank) in the [Philippine Sea](/source/Philippine_Sea). It is the shallowest point of [Benham Rise](/source/Benham_Rise), which is wholly part of the territory of the [Philippines](/source/Philippines).

## Geology

With an area of around 170 square kilometers (66 sq mi), the Benham Bank only forms 1 percent of the [Benham Rise](/source/Benham_Rise).[1] It is the shallowest point of the larger [underwater plateau](/source/Underwater_plateau) at 48 to 100 meters (157 to 328 ft) below sea level.[2][3] It has a diameter of 30 kilometers (19 mi) from its base.[3]

The summit area has a surface area of 52 square kilometers (20 sq mi) and has a general length and width of 8 and 6.5 kilometers (5.0 and 4.0 mi).[3]

It has a basal elevation of −2,895 meters (−9,498 ft) while the height from its base to its summit is 2,847 meters (9,341 ft).[3]

## Flora and fauna

Benham Bank hosts at least 200 species of fish,[4] including commercially important fish such as the [blue fin tuna](/source/Blue_fin_tuna).[5] At the mesophotic zone or around 150 meters (490 ft) of the ocean bank, sponges and algae[4] such as *[Halimeda](/source/Halimeda)* green [macroalgae](/source/Macroalgae) have been observed. Expeditions in 2014 and 2016 revealed a [mesophotic coral reef](/source/Mesophotic_coral_reef) with 100% live coral cover.[1]

## Research

Marine scientists from the [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources](/source/Bureau_of_Fisheries_and_Aquatic_Resources) (BFAR) and the [University of the Philippines](/source/University_of_the_Philippines) (UP) conducted research in the Benham Bank in 2016. They boarded the government ship MV *DA-BFAR* for their research. Their remotely operated vehicle as well as technical diver-videographers were provided by Oceana Philippines. BFAR and UP also conducted research in 2014.[4]

## Conservation

Local environmental groups have urged the [Department of Environment and Natural Resources](/source/Department_of_Environment_and_Natural_Resources) to declare the Benham Bank as a "no-take" zone to legally protect the feature's biodiversity by limiting "human activity".[1]

## References

1. ["Valentine message to Cimatu: Declare Benham Bank a 'no-take' zone"](https://www.rappler.com/science/earth-space/196052-environmentalists-valentine-message-cimatu-declare-benham-bank-no-take-zone/). *Rappler*. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.

1. ["The Philippine Rise"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180509174053/http://www.fsi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/The-Philippine-Rise.pdf). Foreign Service Institute – Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies. December 2017. p. 1. Archived from [the original](http://www.fsi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/The-Philippine-Rise.pdf) on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.

1. Janer, Denise Faye; Siringan, Fernando; Villanoy, Cesar (23 November 2023). ["Benham Bank: a Thick Carbonate Bank on the Philippine Rise, West Pacific"](https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/images/pdf/pjs_pdf/vol152no6B_Dec2023/Benham_Bank_a_thick_carbonate_bank_on_the_Phil_Rise_part1.pdf). *Philippine Journal of Science*. **152** (6B). [doi:10.56899/152.6B.04](https://doi.org/10.56899/152.6B.04). [ISSN 0031-7683](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0031-7683). Retrieved 11 June 2025.

1. ["Benham Bank Expedition 2016"](http://ph.oceana.org/expeditions/benham_expedition/benhamexpedition/overview). *Oceana Philippines*. Retrieved 16 May 2018.

1. ["Benham's hidden gems: Thriving sea life, potential gas"](https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/03/15/17/benhams-hidden-gems-thriving-sea-life-potential-gas). *ABS-CBN News*. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Benham Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Bank) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benham_Bank?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.