Fish assemblages in Waai Gulf

This dataset contains comprehensive information on fish assemblages collected from interconnected coastal habitats in Waai Gulf, eastern Indonesia. The data were obtained through multi-habitat sampling using multiple fishing gears over an extended temporal period to capture spatial and temporal variability in ichthyofaunal composition. The dataset includes species occurrence and abundance data, habitat classification, sampling locations, and temporal sampling information. These data provide a baseline for understanding habitat connectivity and its role in structuring coastal fish assemblages in a data-poor tropical bay system. The dataset can be used for ecological connectivity studies, biodiversity assessments, fisheries management, and marine spatial planning