Provisioning services of seagrass ecosystem in Pari Island

Abstract

Seagrass ecosystem provides many ecosystem services, including provisioning services in which people obtain direct products (e.g., food) from the ecosystem. This study examined the seagrass ecosystem provisioning service in Pari Island, Jakarta Bay. The data was collected in May 2021 using questionaries from 97 respondents (40 fishers and 57 non-fishers) living on the island. Our analysis reveals that seagrass ecosystems around Pari Island deliver food sources and income for the local communities. Many species of fishes, shellfishes, shrimps, and swimming crabs are commonly harvested by the local community. The most dominant harvested fishes are rabbitfishes (Siganus spp, 85%) and emperor fishes (Lethrinus sp, 15%), while the harvested shellfishess are “kerang bulu” (Anadara spp, 42%), “buol” (Venus sp, 32%), and “kere-kere” (Grafrarium spp, 26%). The locals use fishing gear such as nets and handlines to catch fish and use knives, machetes, and crowbars to collect shellfish. Generally, the locals harvest biota in seagrass ecosystems 1-2 times per week, with a time of about 1-2 hours. The harvested biotas serve as protein sources; only a few community members sell it for livelihood. In conclusion, the provisioning services of seagrass ecosystems is manifested as a food sources and livelihood to the local communities.