Ecology, Value and Threats of Cryptic Marine Benthic Fauna in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This thesis demonstrated that cryptobenthic fauna on soft sediment habitats in Southeast Asia are economically valuable, have a high species richness and can contribute to the sustainable use of ocean resources through dive tourism. While dive tourism can provide local livelihoods, unethical diver behaviour can also negatively affect the species tourism depends on. Despite its high economic value, research and conservation on soft sediments are largely lacking, issues which should be addressed in the future.