Tongan socio-environmental spatial layers for marine ecosystem management
Patrick F. Smallhorn-West
A B C J , Sophie E. Gordon D , Alexandra C. Dempsey E , Sam J. Purkis E F , Siola’a Malimali G , Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi G , Paul C. Southgate D H , Tom C. L. Bridge B I , Robert L. Pressey B and Geoffrey P. Jones A B
A Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
B Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
C WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, 11960, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
D School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Qld 4556, Australia.
E Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Annapolis, MD 21403, USA.
F CSL – Center for Carbonate Research, Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
G Ministry of Fisheries, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga.
H Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research and School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Qld 4556, Australia.
I Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Museum Network, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia.
J Corresponding author. Email: patricksmallhornwest@jcu.edu.au
Pacific Conservation Biology - https://doi.org/10.1071/PC19032
Submitted: 15 August 2019 Accepted: 7 July 2020 Published online: 12 August 2020
Abstract
Environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts are key influences on ecological processes and associated ecosystem services. Effective management of Tonga’s marine ecosystems therefore depends on accurate and up-to-date knowledge of environmental and anthropogenic variables. Although many types of environmental and anthropogenic data are now available in global layers, they are often inaccessible to end users, particularly in developing countries with limited accessibility and analytical training. Furthermore, the resolution of many global layers might not be sufficient to make informed local decisions. Although the near-shore marine ecosystem of Tonga is extensive, the resources available for its management are limited, and little is known about its current ecological state. Here we provide a marine socio-environmental dataset covering Tonga’s near-shore marine ecosystem as compiled from various global layers, remote sensing projects, local ministries, and the 2016 national census. The dataset consists of 11 environmental and 6 anthropogenic variables summarised in ecologically relevant ways, spatially overlaid across the near-shore marine ecosystem of Tonga. The environmental variables selected include bathymetry, coral reef density, distance from deep water, distance from land, distance from major terrestrial inputs, habitat, land area, net primary productivity, salinity, sea surface temperature and wave energy. The anthropogenic variables selected include fishing pressure, management status, distance to fish markets, distance from villages, population pressure and a socioeconomic development index based on population density, growth, mean age, mean education level and unemployment. We hope this extensive and accessible dataset will be a useful tool for future assessment and management of marine ecosystems in Tonga.
Additional keywords: coral reefs, human impacts, marine spatial ecology, remote sensing, South Pacific.
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