These data and code were generated in support of the manuscript: Cook DT, Holbrook SJ, and Schmitt RJ, Scientific Reports. In 2017, we collected biological and physical data from 20 sites along the north shore of Moorea, French Polynesia, to investigate spatial patterns in grazing and browsing functions of herbivorous fishes, environmental correlates, and implications for coral resilience. In addition to the data collected at the 20 north shore sites, we conducted a 10-day field experiment to assess the relationship between browsing intensity and potential of reversing a coral-to-macroalgae shift. This material uses data collected by the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research (MCR LTER) site under Grant No. OCE 2224354 (and earlier awards). Additional financial support to the MCR LTER site was provided through a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2025).