Distribution of Blue Swim Crab (Portunus pelagicus) Catching Areas Using Foldable Traps in the Coastal Waters of Barru Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

The utilization of blue swim crab resources poses a significant challenge that requires appropriate solutions, thus necessitating effective resource management. Uncontrolled fishing conditions can lead to economic overfishing if proper management is not implemented. Moreover, fishermen compete to increase their fishing efforts, leading to the need for capturing in more distant areas. Therefore, rehabilitation and management actions need to be promptly executed. This study aims to analyze blue swim crab catching areas based on distance from the coast, crab weight, carapace width, size of adult crabs, and the size of crabs eligible for capture in the coastal waters of Barru Regency. The research was conducted over 8 months, from May to December 2022, in the blue swim crab fishing grounds in the waters of Barru Regency, South Sulawesi Province. Data Was collected through a combination of survey and observation methods. The collected data were descriptively analyzed SPSS and Microsoft Excel programs. The results indicate that: (1) Constituted 51.8% of the captured individuals, and females constituted the remaining 48.2%; (2) The average weight and carapace width of these crabs fluctuated based on the distance and depth of the fishing areas; (3) A higher number of adult-sized crabs were caught in the crab catching areas at a distance of 3-5 nautical miles from the coast; (4) The percentage of adult crabs was larger compared to crabs eligible for capture, indicating symptoms of overfishing; (5) All the individuals were of mature size. Specifically, 88.9% for male crabs and 94.3% for female crabs. The criteria used to determine eligibility for capture were carapace width above 11 cm.