The South Pacific claims 13 per cent of the world's coral reefs. The Western Pacific is home to around 400 coral species, while further east the variety of species reduces to around 100.Within the South Pacific, coral reefs are categorised into four groups - fringing reefs, barrier reefs, platform reefs and atolls. Fringing reefs are those found in shallow waters near to the shores of tropical islands. Many of the reefs around Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji and the Solomon Islands are fringing reefs. Barrier reefs are found surrounding large areas of land and these are found in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and parts of the Solomon Islands.
Coral atolls are the most widespread type of reef in the South Pacific.
They exist as a result of rising sea levels and the eroding of volcanic islands. Lagoons are created between the atolls and the islands and they are home to an abundance of marine life. Atolls are found all over the South Pacific - especially in the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tahiti. Threats The condition of South Pacific reefs varies from island to island. The reefs of Fiji, Polynesia and the Cook Islands suffer from the effects of pollution, siltation, dredging and coastal development while in Niue and Palau, there has been little reef disturbance.