Estuarine fish community structure in Banten Bay Indonesia

Abstract

Fish community structure in the aquatic environment including estuarine often affected by water quality and condition surrounding the aquatic area. Banten Bay is close to several activities that could affect water quality and its biota. This research aims to reveal the fish community structure in four estuaries in Banten Bay. Fish and water were sampled in May, July, and October 2013 in the estuarine area i.e. Wadas, Cibanten, Cengkok, and Pamong in the Banten Bay. Fishes were collected using several fishing gears which are commonly used by fishermen in each sampling station and identified in the laboratory. Four types of fishing gears were used for the sampling i.e.beach seine (Wadas), lift net (Cibanten), beach seine (Cengkok), and mullets gill net (Pamong). Several water qualities were measured and analyzed using Pollution Index methods. Trophic status was analyzed using TRIX methods. Seventeen species of fishes were collected in Wadas, twenty species in Cibanten, fifteen species in Cengkok, and one species in Pamong. Fish Diversity Index was the medium category in Wadas, Cibanten, and Cengkok estuaries while it was the low category in Pamong estuarine. Water quality that slightly polluted with the richness of nutrients supported the abundance of fishes at four estuaries in Banten Bay.