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The Pacific Island region's coastal fisheries produce a little over 100,000 tonnes offish and seafood products per year. They are very significant in providing food, income and jobs for Pacific Islanders, and further contribute to Pacific Island economies through import substitution and generation of export earnings. However their sustainability is uncertain due to two main threats: overfishing and habitat degradation. In many of the most accessible localities fisheries production from coastal areas is thought to be at or beyond maximum sustainable yield and higher production cannot be expected. Population growth in the region will lead to increased fishing and decreased yields, especially near urban areas. Additional coastal fishing pressure will result from growing international demand for seafood caused by expanding markets and trade liberalization. The situation in regard to habitat degradation is worsening and the ability of coastal ecosystems to absorb further deleterious changes may be diminishing.

Domestic contributions dominate the relatively mi-industrialized Pacific Region. Domestic wastewater disposal (or sewerage) and disposal of domestic solid waste remain critical issues for the region. In most areas the current management of these results is not sufficient to prevent deleterious effects on public health, environmental quality, traditional lifestyles, and economic development. Marine water quality as well as fresh surface and ground water quality are affected. Based on the criteria for the establishment of priorities outlined in paragraph 22 et. seq. of the GPA this area, particularly wastewater disposal, should receive urgent attention on regional, national, and local levels.

In Tonga, IWP targets pilot projects that address waste management with a view to improving freshwater and marine resources. To facilitate the IWP in Tonga, the Government of Tonga, through the Department of Environment and the IWP Project Coordination Unit, based at SPREP, have commissioned this inventory of environment related legislation and institutions in Tonga.

For government institutions and private companies, TUC claim from them through the Ministry of Internal & Social Affairs service charge in accordance with the number of buildings or type of buildings they have. This system does not extend to private houses and therefore it is up to private houses to approach TUC and pay for the service charge. Public sen-ants are deducted a charge from their salaries to cover waste removal services with the result public service housing areas receive the most regular service - yet not as efficient and reliable as might be expected for a paid service. Waste for collection is usually left by households or institutions mostly in piles some in bins on the roadside. Many institutions use this sen-ice however there are also some which bum their rubbish or dump them at the beach or shoreline.