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Fiji is one of the wealthiest countries in the South Pacific, partly because of its extensive marine resources, which provide important services such as protein from fishing and income from tourism. The country is made up of approximately 844 volcanic islands and is dominated by the Viti Levu and Vanua Levu platforms which account for 87% of the total land area (Vuki et al., 2000). Fiji has a moderate tropical climate and hence reefs are well developed around all of the islands.

This discussion will cover the topics listed below, with the aim of explaining, in simple terms, the complex organisation of coral reef ecosystems. The central theme is the inter-relationship between various components of the coral reef ecosystem and the way in which a change in one component may manifest changes in other components. Specifically, inter-relationships are explained in terms of a selective extractive activity such as that associated with the marine ornamental trade. Where possible, examples are drawn from organisms that are currently collected for the trade.