Inshore marine resources play an important role in the livelihoods of Pacific Island coastal communities. However, such reliance can be detrimental to inshore marine ecosystems. Understanding the livelihoods of coastal communities is important for devising relevant and effective fisheries management strategies. This study examined livelihood considerations within fisheries governance in a contemporary Pacific Island setting. The aim is to understand how livelihoods within a highly fishery-dependent population in which marine resources are contested due to high levels of competition between people can affect fisheries governance and ommunity-based resource management.