Fisheries department 2007 : annual report

Abstract

Vanuatu is an archipelago with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering an estimated area of 680,000 square kilometers. The total coastline length is about 2,528 kilometers. In contrast to neighboring Pacific Island countries which are endowed widely extensive with large areas of fringing reefs, barrier reefs and lagoons, Vanuatu's inshore or shallow water areas are quite small. Inner reef areas are limited to narrow fringing reefs with the combined coral reef area covering an approximated 408 square kilometers. Other biologically important reef associated habitats, which include mangroves, estuaries and lagoons amount to a total area of 25 square kilommeters (Done and Navin, 19901).