ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF CORAL REEF AND FISH COMMUNITIES OF SAWAI BAY, MALUKU PROVINCE, INDONESIA

The Government of Maluku Province, eastern part of Indonesia, has committed to contribute 1 million hectare of Marine Protected Area (MPA) of the total 20 million hectares of MPA targeted by Indonesian government by 2020.... [ view full abstract ]

The Government of Maluku Province, eastern part of Indonesia, has committed to contribute 1 million hectare of Marine Protected Area (MPA) of the total 20 million hectares of MPA targeted by Indonesian government by 2020. Sawai bay is one of the potential areas of a new MPA establishment in the Maluku region. However, there is still lack of ecological information on the area. This study was aimed to assess the ecological status of Sawai bay, specifically on its benthic and fish communities of the area. In total, 25 sampling sites was chosen based on satellite imaginary data. Underwater Visual Census (UVC) was used to collect benthic and fish community data. Result showed hard-coral cover in the bay was relatively in a good shape reaching at 32.25 ± 3.95%. However, rubble percentage was also relatively high at 22.3 ± 3.68% indicating the area experienced blast fishing practices in the past. Fish abundance and fish biomass in the Bay water were relatively high at approximately 6,733.16 ± 842.38 individual/ha and 2,074.31 ± 70.61 kg/ha, respectively. However, Reef fish, particularly from Serranidae and Lutjanidae family which are the main target fish of local fishermen, has fish biomass at only 21.98 ± 3.13 kg/ha and 190.58 ± 86.01 kg/ha, respectively. The good shape of hard coral cover and high fish biomass in the bay may indicate the need of management and protection of the area from any pressures that may contribute to the declining habitat and marine ecosystem of Sawai bay water.