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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.

Coral Reefs and their associated habitats are recognised as an extremely important resource throughout the South Pacific region. Fiji is one of the wealthiest countries in the region. This is in part attributable to its biodiverse and productive reef ecosystems, which provide valuable fishery resources, important tourism attractions, as well as protection from storms and coastal erosion. Over recent decades, there has been a glowing realisation of the degradation caused to coral reef environments due to increased coastal development and resource over-utilisation (Hodgeson. 1999). These threats may manifest themselves as increased nutrient enrichment, erosion, siltation. over fishing, destructive fishing, marine pollution, and well as harvest for the aquarium trade. Such impacts, often acting synergistically with natural impacts, can result in a decline in ecosystem productivity and stability. Left unchecked this will ultimately lead to a reduction in income and resources for coastal communities and other stakeholders that rely on fishing and the marine environment.

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The shallow coastal zone of Fiji is comprised of three major, interrelated habitat types: marine algae and seagrass; large areas of mangroves; and extensive coral reefs. The marine resources include approximately 1000 coral reefs with representatives of all major reef types (Vuki et al.y 2000). Although marine biodiversity is lower than the 'coral triangle' of Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and north-eastern Australia, Fiji does support approximately 200 species of coral (Veron, 2000). Furthermore it has been estimated that Fiji has approximately 1200 marine fish species (Vuki et ai, 2000). Since taxonomic research in the country has been limited, further research will extend the known biodiversity of all marine taxa considerably.