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Jonathan Sauer (1961) remarked, in his Coastal Plant Geography of Mauritius, that the chance to study the coastal vegetation there was like being "admitted to a field worker's paradise"
and stressed that "most tropical coasts are beautiful and exciting, particularly to people concerned with natural processes . . .." The same can certainly be said for the tropical coasts of the often Edenized islands of the Pacific Ocean. Their "beauty and excitement" is considerably enhanced,

Helen Reef in the Southwest Islands of Palau is the one of the greatest marine assets of the Hatohobei (Tobi) People and of the Republic of Palau. Helen Reef is known as one of the most biologically diverse coral reef atolls in the Pacific and historically one of the most biologically abundant reefs in Palau,including acclaimed populations of plentiful marine resources including, trochus, turtles, sea cucumbers, seabirds, and many large reef fish.

The main objective of the expedition was to compare as large a series of islands of different climatic conditions, ages and geological origins as possible. This necessitated short visits to each selected island. The structure and components of the ecosystem under study were the focus of attention, while their functioning was considered to be of secondary importance.
3 copies
Call Number: ECO [EL],PC 577.52 ECO
Physical Description: x, 220 p. : ill. ; 30 cm

New Caledonia is surrounded by a large and rich lagoon which is enclosed by a barrier reef over 1,000 km long. Exploitation of the living lagoon resources to meet local requirements for
fish and other seafood has not, up to now, greatly affected the overall bio-ecological balance of the lagoon environment because New Caledonia's population density is very low.
The sea area near the capital of Noumea, where over half of the

In Samoa the Tectus pyramis and the Turbo chrysostomus are generally spread through out the reefs within suitable habitats. These habitats are mainly of shallow sunlit waters within the lagoon and reefs. The juvenile species are mainly found in lesser rough waters while adult species are known to thrive on reef flats towards the reef slopes. They are herbivorous and mainly feed on algae (turf algae), diatoms and foramaniferas on dead corals and rock surfaces. (Bell & Mulipola,) 1995
Available online
Call Number: [EL]

The Tokelau Islands consist of three atolls (Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo) approximately 500 km north of Western Samoa. Their numerous islets are formed mainly of coral sand and rubble with no standing freshwater. Sixty-one plant species have been recorded, 13 of these being introduced and 10 being adventives. There are three vegetation zones, the beach, the beach-crest, and the interior coconut/fern zone with the physiognomy of a humid tropical forest. Marine invertebrates have not been studied.

Nauru is a single Island state with a land area of 21 Km square and a population of approximately 11,300. It is one of the world's smallest Republics and was Nauru part of the German territories from 1886 to 1914. It was then mandated by the League of Nations to Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom. Nauru was administered by these three powers through the Trusteeship system of the United Nations after 1945 until it was granted full independence on the 31 January 1968.

The Coral Coast, Fiji, was one of the areas included in a South Pacific Marine Resources Energy Programme commissioned, by the Marine Resource Department of the University of the South Pacific. This present survey formed part of an overall exercise embracing similar work in Tonga and West Samoa, and the period spent in Fiji covered March 22nd to April 11th.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 52 p.

The Main Species Of holothurian exploited in the Sputh Pacific are Holothuria scabra, H. Fuscogilva And H. nobilis, which have high commercial value , Actinopyga echinites, A. Miliaries And Thelenota ananas Of medium commercial value, And Holothuria atra, H. fuscopunctata and H. mauritiana, whose commercial value is low.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 92-5-102508-8
Physical Description: ix, 143 p.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) provides an indicator of the growth of the economy of a
nation. The GDP for Samoa in 1999 was estimated to be ST$718.4 million at current market
prices, of which agriculture, fishing and indirectly tourism are the main sectors of the
economy. These sectors are directly and indirectly dependent on the natural resources. Yet,
the essential role played by these resources to the economy is not explicitly known since
many of their services are not transacted through formal markets and in some cases markets