The dataset is a compilation of records of sea turtles caught in prawn trawls in the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF). There are 316 records of five species. The records are from research voyages, scientific observers on commercial prawn trawlers and crew member observers on commercial prawn trawlers. More specifically, the data sources were as follows: (a) CSIRO and collaborative research voyages on RV Southern Surveyor; (b) crew member observers on NPF commercial vessels, 2003-2005 (FRDC project 2002/035, collaboration between CSIRO and AFMA, funding by FRDC); (c) scientific observers on NPF commercial vessels (FRDC project 2000/173, collaboration between CSIRO and the Australian Maritime College (AMC), funding by FRDC); (d) crew members and scientific observers on NPF commercial vessels (FRDC project 1998/202, collaboration between BRS, CSIRO, AFMA, funding by FRDC and NORMAC); (e) crew member observers and scientific observers on NPF commercial vessels and RV Southern Surveyor (FRDC project 1996/257, collaboration between CSIRO, DPIQ and AMC, funding by FRDC).

We used a range of approaches to gain an understanding of spatial and species-related patterns in herbivory in five distinct studies. Using underwater video cameras and Sargassum myriocystum assays, 23 different fish species were observed consuming macroalgae, but seven species (Naso unicornis, Kyphosus sp., K. vaigiensis, Siganus doliatus, Scarus ghobban, S. schlegeli and initial-phase Scarus sp.) together accounted for 95% of the observed bites across five regions. Of these species, three were identified as the most important in consuming macroalgae: N. unicornis, Kyphosus sp. and K. vaigiensis. These results were supported by stable isotope analyses that incorporate nutrients from food sources over far longer periods than those examined using the assay approach. We quantified spatial patterns of macroalgal consumption and food sources across a range of scales. Firstly, across reef habitats separated by hundreds of meters, herbivory was always greatest in the structurally complex coral-dominated outer reef and reef flat habitats, which are also characterised by the highest biomass of herbivorous fish. Secondly, we showed a high degree of variability in grazing rates among regions separated by 100s km in the marine park, with different species responsible for macroalgal removal among those regions. Either N. unicornis or Kyphosus spp. were responsible for the majority of the grazing. Thirdly, we showed variability in the importance of different food sources across both habitats and regions for some consumers (e.g. Siganus spp.) but consistency for other species (e.g. Naso unicornis, Kyphosus spp.), which is likely to reflect shifts in food source availability or feeding preferences. Lastly, we found strong transcontinental differences between Keppel Islands in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) on the east coast of Australia and Ningaloo Reef in both the diversity of the species observed feeding and on the species composition of the roving herbivorous fish community. In Ningaloo Reef, 23 species were observed biting on Sargassum, compared with just 8 in the Keppel Islands. Sargassum consumption in the Keppel Islands was dominated by a small number of species and supports the identification of Naso unicornis as a key browser species. The larger number of species feeding on macroalgae in Ningaloo Reef suggests that there may be higher functional redundancy among macroalgal consumers in this system. We also characterised the benthic community dynamics of the reef-flat and lagoon habitats to identify seasonal patterns and we experimentally determined the importance of herbivory on algae recruitment in these two habitats. Differences among habitats in algal biomass were strongly influenced by season. Lagoon habitats only had higher biomass than reef-flat habitats during part of the year (late summer/ early autumn). Herbivory had an equally strong effect on the community composition of algal recruits in the lagoon and reef flat habitats, despite the reef flat hosting a herbivorous fish community that was an order of magnitude greater in terms of biomass than the lagoon, which is characterised by younger and smaller fish (e.g. Scarus initial phase).

Ecosystem impacts of human usage and the effectiveness of zoning for biodiversity conservation: - Measures of the effectiveness of previously established sanctuary zones for protecting exploited subtidal fish and invertebrate populations. - Measures of the effectiveness of previously established sanctuary zones for protecting exploited intertidal invertebrate populations - Assessment of whether there is consistent evidence for trophic cascade effects in previously established sanctuary zones - Experimental assessment of potential for indirect effects of fishing on lagoonal and shallow water ecosystems - Assessment of adequacy of sanctuaries for exploited species and related ecological effects - Baselines for future assessment of the importance of zone size, age, configuration, location on effectiveness for protecting biodiversity - Recommendations on species and methods to be monitored to assess management effectiveness (monitoring protocols, management indicators) for intertidal and subtidal communities

The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG) is a provisional (or ‘interim’) compilation of genus names – including species names in many cases – and covers both living and extinct biota into a single system to support taxonomic and other queries dealing with e.g. homonyms, authorities, parent-child relationships, spelling variations and distinctions between marine and non-marine or fossil and recent taxa. Taxonomic names in IRMNG are assigned flags to distinguish between marine vs. non-marine, and extant vs. fossil status; they are also arranged into a simple management hierarchy for navigation purposes, compilation of statistics per taxonomic group and more. Fuzzy matching is also supported (using "Taxamatch") so that a misspelled name can in most instances be reconciled to a correctly spelled name at genus or species rank, where this is held. IRMNG was a project of OBIS Australia designed to assist in the provision of marine species data to OBIS, by permitting the discrimination of marine from nonmarine (and extant from fossil) species records on the basis of the genus name portion of their scientific name (normally, genus + species, or genus + species + infraspecies if applicable). The aim of the project is to (a) assemble as complete a list as possible of the estimated 150,000 extant and 50,000 fossil generic names in current use, plus their possible further 250,000-300,000 synonyms, and (b) flag as many of these as is possible with their marine/nonmarine, and extant/fossil, status. Relevant species lists are also being attached to the "correct" instances of genus names as available. IRMNG was developed and based at CSIRO, Australia from 2006-2014, and from 2016 onwards it is now hosted at VLIZ, Belgium: http://www.irmng.org/