Status of coral reef and reef fish resources of Vanuatu, April 2000 for the Regional Symposium on Coral Reefs in the Pacific: status and monitoring resources and management, 22-24th May 2000, Noume, New Caledonia

The coral reefs of Vanuatu contribute to rural incomes, nutrition, shoreline protection and, more importantly, self reliance for the people of Vanuatu. The total area of shallow water benthic coral communities is relatively small, approximately 408 square kilometres out of a combined land area of 12,190 square kilometres. Although there are many reefs of exceptional beauty in good health, a nation-wide survey in