The region’s fishery resources can be broadly split into two main categories: oceanic, and coastal or inshore. Coastal or inshore resources include a wide range of finfish and invertebrates. They are characterized by their shallow-water habitats or demersal lifestyles, and restriction of individual movements to coastal areas. This paper discusses
these resource categories, with a focus on the major types of fishing, the important species, the status of the resources, and the fisheries management that occurs. This report also provides information on the fisheries in each of the 14 independent Pacific Island countries