Abundance of holothurians (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in the Rowley Shoals, Australia, in 2018 and 2023

This dataset represents the first island-scale compilation of sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) abundance data across all three protected atolls of the Rowley Shoals in the northwest coast of Australia. We specifically quantified holothurian abundance by doing standardized benthic surveys (SCUBA visual census along 50-meter transects) across 34 sites in both 2018 and 2023 as follows: Clerke Reef (n=18 sites), Imperieuse Reef (n=10 sites), and Mermaid Reef (n=6 sites). Given that many species here documented are listed as threatened or vulnerable by the IUCN, this dataset will help inform research and management efforts to protect these unique species and reef ecosystems.