Fiji’s inshore marine environment, and in particular the reef ecosystem, is unique for its abundance and diversity of life. Fijians have a strong tradition of connection to the coastal environment. As recognised in the 2005 Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy, “throughout the region, customary association with the sea forms the basis of present day social structures, livelihoods and tenure systems and traditional systems of stewardship governing its use.” Inshore fisheries are also an essential component of the economy. In the recentpast, inshore fisheries have contributed an amount roughly equivalent to the contribution of the offshore fishery.