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The importance of coastal and marine environments to every aspect of the lives of Pacific Islanders cannot be overstated. Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) maintain resource rights and management responsibilities over 30 million square kilometers of ocean, equivalent to the total land area of Canada, China and the USA combined. The total population of coastal Pacific Islanders is only 2.6 million. There are 11 square kilometers of ocean for each Pacific Islander. Jurisdictionally, the ocean is 200 times more significant to the average Pacific Islander than it is to the average global citizen (Adams et al 1995). Anthropogenic impacts on coastal and marine resources and ecosystems are a major concern for Pacific Island peoples.

The Government of Papua New Guinea has developed this National Marine Spill Contingency Plan (NATPLAN) as part of its commitment to protecting its and our valuable coastal and marine resources from the threat of marine pollution incidents. NATPLAN has been developed to reflect the essential steps necessary to initiate, conduct and terminate an emergency spill response on, or into the navigable waters of Papua New Guinea, on the adjoining shorelines, the waters of the contiguous zone or into waters of the exclusive economic zone.

The Government of Niue has developed this Spill Contingency Plan as part of its commitment to protecting its valuable coastal and marine resources from the threat of pollution from spill incidents. The Plan has been developed to reflect the essential steps necessary to initiate, conduct and terminate an emergency spill response on, or into Niue waters. The Plan extends to also address spill response to spill incidents on land.

The Government of the Republic of Palau has developed this National Spill Contingency Plan (NATPLAN) as part of its commitment to protecting our valuable coastal and marine resources from an eminent or substantial threat to the marine environment or public. NATPLAN has been developed to reflect the essential steps necessary to initiate, conduct and terminate an emergency spill response on, or into the navigable waters of the Republic of Palau, on the adjoining shorelines, the waters of the contiguous zone or into waters of the exclusive economic zone.

The Government of the Fiji Islands has developed this National Marine Spill Contingency Plan (NATPLAN) as part of its commitment to protecting our valuable coastal and marine resources from the threat of marine pollution incidents. NATPLAN has been developed to reflect the essential steps necessary to initiate, conduct and terminate an emergency spill response on, or into the navigable waters of the Fiji Islands on the adjoining shorelines, the waters of the contiguous zone or into waters of the exclusive economic zone.

A community of living things, along with its surroundings, is referred to as an ecosystem. An ecosystem often takes its name from the most common, or most obvious, thing present. The parrotfish shown in Figure 1.1, for example, is said to be part of the coral reef ecosystem.