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A coastal mapping programme was initiated on Upolu Island in Western Samoa as a means of providing a framework within which to identify broad geologic patterns (Roy and Richmond, 1986). The first stage of this programme involved the interpretation of aerial photographs of coastal deposits followed by field verification. Mapping of large areas provides a mechanism whereby the results of more detailed studies can be better applied to the understanding of the entire coastline. The shoreline, reef flats, and coastal plain of Upolu were investigated by a reconnaissance survey designed to examine near shore mineral resources (primarily construction materials), potential geo-hazards, and coastal processes. This report is designed to accompany ten 1:20,000 scale maps (4 sheets) produced of the Upolu coastal zone. Appendix-I provides brief summary descriptions of the reef types, coastal plains, shoreline stability, and resources for each sheet.

The Meeting was opened by Dr Vili A Fuavao, Director of the South Pacific Regiona lEnvironment Programme (SPREP), who welcomed delegates and called upon them to make firm decisions to facilitate both the implementation of the Action Plan and the inevitable evolution of SPREP into an autonomous regional organisation. Outlining the numerous tasks to be undertaken by this Fourth Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM), Dr Fuavao referred to the two options identified by the Irgal Working Group under which SPREP could evolve into an autonomous body. He highlighted the importance of reaching agreement on this important matter so that the ambiguities, uncertainties and confusion faced by the Secretariat were resolved, providing the Secretariat with clear operational direction for its future work.

As a result of previous studies carried out through the support of UNEP to the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) Regional Seas programme in the Pacific, a number of island States have been perceived as being under immediate threat of major environmental change should greenhouse-forced climatic warming and consequent sea level rise occur.

This report was prepared for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The report reviews the state of the environment and development in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the constraints and opportunities for sustainable development. In preparing this report, the FSM has used the term sustainable development to mean attainment of a level of natural resource utilization and environmental quality at a level sufficient to maintain the desired degree of economic development and quality of life appropriate for the cultures of the FSM.

This report was prepared for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The report reviews the state of the environment and development in the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and the constraints and opportunities for sustainable development, in preparing this report, the RMI has used the term sustainable development to mean maintenance of natural resources and environmental quality at a level sufficient to maintain the desired degree of economic development. This level of development would maintain the quality of life appropriate for the culture of the Marshallese people while minimizing the dependence on external resources.

This report presents the results of studies made on five Pacific lagoon located at Suva, Fiji; Vila , Vanuatu, Tarawa, Kiribati; Tongatapu, Tonga and Marovo, Western Province, Solomon Island.

The Regional Seas programme of UNEP commenced in 1974 and since that time considerable advances have been made in the development of regional action plans and conventions for the protection of the marine and coastal areas of some eleven regions world- wide. Following these developments UNEP has encouraged inter-regional co-operation in addressing various issues of environmental concern through the organisation of international meetings and inter-regional symposia. This volume contains the record of one such symposium, held in Vina del Mar. Chile in association with the VI Inter-Congress of the Pacific Science Association.

Life-history strategies were used to describe and compare the fish assemblages of coral reefs, soft bottoms and mangroves. Each habitat was sampled monthly during one year. Each species was classified into one among 6 life- history strategies rangeing from r-type species -class 1- (early reproduction, short live...) to K-type species –class 6- (late reproduction, low mortality...). On a yearly basis, the structures of the three fish assemblages were different. On reefs, species composition is dominated by fishes of the classes 2,3,4. Class 1 species make a large contribution to the density on reefs despite a low diversity of this group, but most of the density is given by class 2 fishes which make also an important contribution to biomass. However, classes 3 and 5 form also an appreciable pan of the biomass on reefs. On soft bottom the species composition is dominated by the 3 first classes. Class 1 fishes contribute the most to density (89 %) and biomass (51 %), with class 5 and 6 making a non negligeable part of the biom ass. In mangroves the structures at the species and density levels are similar to soft bottom, but for biomass class 3 dominates. There are 2 poles of productivity in mangroves, one due to class 1 fish, the other to class 3 fishes. All 3 communities had different monthly variations. At the species level the structure remained stable for all 3 assemblages. Biomass fluctuated more than density. Most of the variations in density or biomass were due to class 1 and 2 which have a higher turnover. There were also variations in classes 5 and 6 but this is due to the fact that these species are rare and have usually large territories and are not well sampled. From the above data it was possible to outline the major aspects of the functioning of these 3 assemblages. In particular, one would expect reefs to be more resilient to small environmental changes than mangroves or soft bottom and on the opposite, in case of a major environmental change soft bottom and mangroves would react faster than reefs. Key words : Life-history strategies, fish assemblage

This report presents the results of studies made on five Pacific lagoons located at Suva, Fiji; Vila, Vanuatu; Tarawa, Kiribati; Tongatapu, Tonga; and Marovo, Western Province, Solomon Islands. Studies were made on water quality by physical, chemical and microbiological analyses. Analyses of shellfish and sediments were also completed for some sites.