1. Development of a National Aquatic Biodiversity Information System for New Zealand Jacqui Burgess Senior Scientist Ministry of Fisheries New Zealand

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. Evolution of NABIS Consultation Decisions decisions decisions More consultation Hard decisions made Ready to go after 2 years!

6. Initial Consultation Process Individual interviews Discussion paper

7. 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

8. 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

9. But what information? Newsletter Questionnaire

10. Base information layers Coastline NZ EEZ Place names (Town, city, port location) NZ 12 nautical mile limit Fisheries administrative boundaries

11. High priority information layers Species distributions/ranges Fisheries catch Breeding colonies/areas Bathymetry Aquaculture Marine Protected Areas

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Process for Development NABIS will be delivered in two distinct phases : –Phase 1 Prototype Implementation (early 2003) –Phase 2 Full Implementation (late 2003)

16. NABIS PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT TO DATE

17. Bridges yet to cross… Sourcing relevant data for information layers Final decisions on functionality of system Metadata standards Managing stakeholder expectations

18. 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