Development of a National Aquatic
Biodiversity Information System
for New Zealand
Jacqui BurgessSenior ScientistMinistry of Fisheries New Zealand
New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy
• Responding to a decline in indigenous biodiversity
• Key component of vision:– Biodiversity is valued and
better understood
• $ NZ1.4 m to improve understanding of marine biodiversity
Marine Biodiversity Research Programme
• Aims to improve understanding of NZ marine biodiversity by:– Improving information management
– Increasing knowledge of communities
• Three project areas:– Marine communities in NZ waters
– Marine communities in Ross Sea, Antarctica
– National Aquatic Biodiversity Information System (NABIS)
What will NABIS do?
• Provide free access to information about the marine environment via an Internet based GIS
• Add value to existing data by transforming it into information
• Enable users to query information, discover data sources and produce maps
• Improve geospatial data management and apply common standards
Evolution of NABIS
• Consultation
• Decisions decisions decisions
• More consultation
• Hard decisions made
• Ready to go after 2 years!
Initial Consultation Process
• Individual interviews
• Discussion paper
Key Outcomes of Consultation
• Need information not data
– People do not have skills to interrogate or interpret distributed databases
– Managers need information for quick decision making (not data)
– Improved access to information will lead to better decision making
Information vs Data
Information:• Is derived from some form of data
analysis• May be derived from a variety of
data sources• Avoids complications surrounding
ownership of data • Avoids misinterpretation of data
points
But what information?
• Newsletter
• Questionnaire
Base information layers
• Coastline
• NZ EEZ
• Place names (Town, city, port location)
• NZ 12 nautical mile limit
• Fisheries administrative boundaries
High priority information layers
•Species distributions/ranges
•Fisheries catch
•Breeding colonies/areas
•Bathymetry
•Aquaculture
•Marine Protected Areas
Presentation of Information
EXAMPLE 1:• Fisheries catch by Fisheries
Management Area• Combined data from all
vessels fishing for stated species over a particular period of time
• Attribute data available for each FMA may include: tonnes, effort, fishing methods etc
Presentation of Information
EXAMPLE 2:• Species distribution• May combine data from a
number of databases holding information on distribution of stated species
• Metadata may include: data sources, data owners, data managers, etc
Presentation of Information
EXAMPLE 3:• Position of marine farms • Data source local
government, verified on site• Attribute data may include:
Farm name, Farm owner, species farmed, reliability of position, etc
Process for Development
NABIS will be delivered in two distinct phases :
– Phase 1 Prototype Implementation (early 2003)
– Phase 2 Full Implementation (late 2003)
NABIS PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT TO
DATE
Bridges yet to cross…
• Sourcing relevant data for information layers
• Final decisions on functionality of system
• Metadata standards
• Managing stakeholder expectations
Acknowledgments
• David Prentice (Project Manager)
• Pete Smith (System Developer)• NIWA (photos of NZ & Ross
Sea marine biodiversity)
Future updates on NABIS at: www.fish.govt.nz