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The Fiji Barrier Reef ecoregion contains extensive coral reef formations and is a regional center of endemism in the South Pacific -- within the top five such centers in the world. The 320 islands in Fiji are surrounded by waters that are home to a diverse ocean environment that include barrier and fringing coral reefs, mangroves, deep pelagic areas, and eelgrass beds.
These volcanic, oceanic islands are considered internationally and regionally important sites for marine biodiversity. They support hundreds of species of fish and many species of marine turtles and nesting seabirds. The coral reefs have species that are among the most diverse in the world. The waters shimmer as delicate round herring, luminous cardinalfish, and spotted sardinella pass by. More than 340 species of cryptic shelled mollusks live in shallow tidal habitats. Giant clams live on the sea bottom among the coral, while green, hawksbill, leatherback, and olive ridley turtles swim close to the surface. Dugongs, manatee-like marine mammals, graze on eelgrass and other underwater plants. The calls of great crested terns, lesser frigates, and Gould’s petrels fill the air as they nest on rocky coasts and dive for fish.
Some of the reef areas and mangroves of the more populated islands have been drastically altered. Pollution runoff and sewage discharge, plus siltation from dredging, have lowered fish populations and injured natural habitats in and around Suva as well as the Nadi and Lautoka areas of Viti Levu. Overfishing and introduced species pose further threats. Marine turtles are hunted for their shells and meat. Small tropical fish are collected for the aquarium trade, fueling destruction of reef areas.
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