It lies north east of Grande Terre, New Caledonia's mainland.

Ouvéa is home to around 3,000 people who are organized into tribes divided into Polynesians and Melanesians by ethnic descent.

A large crustacean called the coconut crab or crabe de cocotier can also be found on the islands.

The large blue crabs live in palm tree plantations and can grow to several kilos in size.

Ouvéa is also home to trophy bonefish that inhabit the nutrient rich "flats" of the atoll.