Pacific Marine Atlases (MACBIO)
This project is providing maps and data to support marine spatial planning in the Pacific
Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Tonga
Tonga contains many marine ecosystems, from globally significant coral reefs to mangroves, seagrass areas, seamounts and deep-sea trenches supporting at least 1,142 fish species, including sharks and rays, as well as whales, dolphins and sea turtles.
We are committed to conserving this unique marine biodiversity. Tonga’s marine ecosystems are worth at least TOP 47 million per year, exceeding the country’s total export value. We are strongly committed to sustaining these values to build an equitable and prosperous blue economy. Improvements in research over the years have enabled us to better understand the ocean system and to develop solutions with a sustainable approach.
A lot of data have become publicly available, with this atlas compiling over a hundred data sets from countless data providers to make this treasure trove of marine and coastal information accessible and usable for the first time as maps with narratives, as data layers and as raw data.
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