Fishery of mud crab Scylla serrata of Kotania Bay, Western Seram District: potency, stock status and sustainable management

Abstract

Study on the fishery of mud crab Scylla sp. of Portunid crab at Kotania Bay of Western Seram District was conducted between March and August 2018. The objectives of this study were to analyze biological parameters, the potency, stock status, sustainability, and to propose a sustainable management plan for this fishery. A total of 592 individual mud crab sample were collected from local fisher for biological parameters analysis. Historical catch data from local fisher, mud crab collector and fishery enumerator were used to analyze stock biomass, fishing intensity and stock status using Graham-Schaefer dynamic model. Rapfish analysis was used to analyze the sustainability of the stock. The carapace width ranged from 7.80 - 23.50 cm with an average of 13.68 cm (±2.25). There was a strong relationship between carapace width-weight (r = 0.9405) with overall growth pattern of isometric. The estimated stock biomass of mud crab of Kotania Bay was 130,000 t with BMSY of 22,425 t.yr−1, and mud crab fishery was under overfishing status. The overall sustainability was 46.92% and was considered as less sustain according to the ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Most sensitive attributes affecting sustainability were catching before maturity, consumer attitude towards sustainability, gear side effect, just governance, and government quality. Law enforcement, education and training on ecosystem approach to fisheries management, mud crab pot with escape gab, community based fishery management as well as monitoring and reporting should be conducted for mud crab sustainability.