Reproduction biology of mullet fish (Mugil dussumieri) found in Bandar Khalipah Waters Serdang Berdagai Regency, North Sumatera Province

Abstract

The Mullet fish (Mugil dussumieri) is one of the types of marine fish that is caught in waters Bandar Khalifah. This limited information reproductive aspects of Mugil dussumieri, such as sex ratio, gonad maturity level, gonad maturity index, fecundity, egg diameter, and gonad histology, that can be used as a guideline for the management of mullet resources to ensure sustainable utilization. This study was conducted from January to March 2023, and method used in this research was random purposive sampling. Fish samples were taken in 3 station is estuary, Pandang River and the coastal waters of Bandar Khalifah District, Serdang Berdagai Regency, North Sumatera Province, which was divided into 3 stations using a census sampling method. The total catch was sampled once a month for 3 months. The fishing gear used was a Gillnet with a mesh size of 1.5 cm. The data analysis included measurements of the samples, gonad maturity level, fecundity, and gonad histology. The reproductive results showed an unbalanced sex ratio of 1:3. The gonad maturity level of the mullet fish ranged from gonad maturity level I to gonad maturity level IV. The egg fecundity ranged from 963 to 129,311 eggs, and based on the egg diameter, the Mullet fish is classified as a partial spawner. These studies are crucial for obtaining information that can be used as a guideline for the management of Mugil dussumieri resources to ensure sustainable utilization.