The
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) defines the Celebes Sea as being one of the waters of the
East Indian Archipelago. The IHO defines its limits as follows:
On the North. The Southern limit of
Sulu Sea [From Tagolo Point, down the West coast of
Mindanao to the Southwest extremity thence to the North coast of
Basilan Island (), through this island to its Southern extremity, thence a line to Bitinan Island () off the Eastern end of
Jolo Island, through Jolo to a point in long. 121°04'E on its South coast, thence through
Tapul and
Lugus Islands and along the North coast of
Tawitawi Island to
Bongao Island off its Western end (), and from thence to Tanjong Labian, the Northeastern extreme of Borneo] and the Southwest coast of Mindanao.
On the East. A line from Tinaca Point, the Southern point of Mindanao, to the North point of
Pulau Sangihe Besar () thence through the
pulau-pulau Sangihe to Tanjung Puisan, the Northeast extreme of Celebes
[Sulawesi].
On the South. The North coast of Celebes between tanjung Puisan and tanjung Binar (Cape Rivers) () and thence a line to
Tanjung Mangkalihat in
Borneo, the Northern limit of
Makassar Strait [a line joining Tanjung Mangkalihat, Borneo () and tanjung Binar (Cape Rivers), Celebes ()].
On the West. The East coast of Borneo is between Tanjung Mangkalihat and Tanjong Labian, the Southern limit of the Sulu Sea. == Marine life ==