Uncontrolled fishing of dusky parrotfish Scarus niger (Forsskal, 1775) Spermonde Islands, Makassar Strait, Indonesia

Abstract

Reef fish is one of the abundant communities in coral reef ecosystems. This fish community is an important component in the food web of the coral reef ecosystem. As a herbivorous fish, Dusky Parrotfish Scarus niger has an important role in in balancing the energy flow in the coral ecosystem because it can control the turf algae growth. Uncontrolled growth of turf algae will inhibit the recruitment of corals juveniles. The ecological role of the Dusky Parrotfish can be disturbed if fishing activities are not regulated. The Dusky Parrotfish is an economically important fish caught in the Spermonde Islands waters. Dusky Parrotfish is a consumption fish that is exported fresh to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. High economic value causing the Dusky Parrotfish increase progressively. Until the present, the fishing status of Dusky Parrotfish in the Spermonde Islands waters have never been studied. This study aims to assess the exploitation rate of Dusky Parrotfish in Spermonde Islands, Makassar Strait, Indonesia. Dusky parrotfish samples were collected from the catch landed at Fish Landing Port, Makassar City. Growth was estimated using the von Bertalanffy equation. Total mortality (Z) was estimated using the Beverton and Holt equations. The natural mortality rate (M) was estimated using the Pauly empirical formula. Fishing mortality rate (F) was estimated using the equation F - Z − M. The exploitation rate (E) was estimated using the Beverton and Holt equations, E=F/Z. The growth rate was Lt = 40[1-e −0.24(t−0.646)]. The total mortality rate was 3.19, the natural mortality rate was 0.66, the fishing mortality rate was 2.53, and the exploitation rate was 0.79. This exploitation rate indicated that the Dusky Parrotfish fishing in Spermonde Islands was uncontrolled.