Introduction

The National Aquatic Biodiversity Information System (NABIS) is an interactive web-based mapping tool. It uses Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to enable users to map and display New Zealand marine biodiversity information. With NABIS, users can map information about New Zealand's marine environment, species distributions and fisheries management.
NABIS is provided by the Ministry of Fisheries as part of the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy.

NABIS gives you access to data layers describing: NABIS lets you:
  • The distributions of fish species
  • The distributions of marine invertebrate species
  • The distributions of marine mammal species
  • The distributions of marine plant species
  • The distributions of seabird species
  • The locations of seabird species breeding colonies
  • The locations of marine mammal species breeding colonies

 

  • Foundation data: topographical maps, towns, rivers, place names, regional council boundaries and South Island Fisheries Waters

 

  • Fisheries management information: Quota Management Areas, Fisheries Management Areas and Statistical Areas for all fishstock species

 

  • Closed area information: Mataitai and Marine Reserves

 

  • All regulated fisheries areas: both commercial and amateur restrictions and prohibitions.

 

  • Commercial Catch information: an interactive tool allowing the selection of species, fishing method and calendar/fishing year to display catch weight data in a map based form
  • Create a map
    • Use a combination of data layers chosen from a list of the 700+ available layers
    • Text search for a layer or placename
    • Add your layers to the map
  • View your map
    • Zoom in or zoom out
    • Centre the map at any point by clicking
    • Pick up and drag the map to re-centre it
    • Zoom straight to a place of interest
  • Customise your map
    • Ability to change the colour of many of the layers
    • Turn labels on or off
    • Add a measured distance line to your map

 

  • Find out things about the objects within a data layer
    • Click at a point on your map to find out which layers and objects within those layers occur at your chosen point
  • Find out things about the data layer
    • how the layer was created and by who
    • about the species or objects mapped in the layer

 

  • Print your map
  • Save your map to place in a document
If you are having any problems with NABIS please visit the Accessibility page.