Kotania Bay Research Articles

“Sasi”

This article describes how seaweed farming is one of the primary livelihoods in the West Ceram Regency. This activity has been done by the local people and others since 2006. However, the competition over land use between the cultivators of the seaweed, groupers, and fishermen have caused declining seaweed production. Semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted with seaweed farmers, fishermen catch, grouper farmers, and the government (Marine and Fisheries Department) (n = 83) in three villages. An in-depth interview with seaweed farmers was performed to deepen the understanding of the working conditions and related problems. One way to resolve the seaweed farmers problem in Kotania Bay is by applying Molucass local wisdom, named sasi. Sasi is applied at the time of planting seaweed and called “Tutup Sasi” and called “Buka Sasi” at harvesting with Kewang control. Finally, the article concludes that the use of “sasi” can manage the competition and resolve conflict, ensure continued business, increase efficiency and provide equity resource management.

Phytoplankton distribution and composition in the waters of Burung and Buntal islands, Kotania bay, western Ceram, Maluku, Indonesia

Start your abstract here . Phytoplankton distribution and composition was evaluated on February, April and June 2015, from Burung and Buntal islands in Kotania Bay. Altogether 42 species phytoplankton representing at least 27 genera from 15 families were collected. The high similarity of species was found in the waters of both islands, but the numbers of species were found in the waters of Buntal Island was higher than those in Burung island. Based on spatial distribution, the highest abundance of phytoplankton was encountered in the waters of Buntal island, while in June, the average abundance of phytoplankton reached the highest with the value of 1010225 cell/m3, and it was also in the waters of Buntal island. We speculate about the differences of a habitat of the two islands, and argue that the composition and abundant of species are related to the season and condition of the surrounding waters.

Present status of grouper fisheries at waters of Kotania Bay, Western Seram District Maluku Province

Study on present status of groupers fishes at waters of Kotania Bay was conducted from 2016 to 2017. Survey and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method were used to collect and examine data and information concerning species potential and utilization of these species. The result shows that there are 35 species of grouper fishes inhabit Kotania Bay waters. From six genera recorded, Epinephelus found to have more varieties species richness compared to other five genera. In general, main habitat of adult grouper is coral reef, whilst mangrove and seagrass are habitat for nursery and grow out. The potency of the Epinephelus, Cephalopholis and Plectropomus genus tend to decrease started in 2000 up to 2017. At the same period, the production of these genera was also declined. Species potency and production declined was attributable to habitat (coral reef) degradation and high fishing intensity as a result of high market demand. Hand line, bottom long line and trap net are general fishing gear used in harvesting of theses fishes. Fishing activities took place all year round except for bottom long line which only lasted from June to October (East monsoon). Spatial fishing ground distribution is predominantly at coral reef ecosystem of Kotania Bay.

Social-Ecological System in Seagrass Ecosystem Management at Kotania Bay Waters, Western Seram, Indonesia

The concept of the Social-Ecological System (SES) of the coastal region, can be found in the seagrass ecosystem in the Kotania Bay Waters. Seagrass ecosystem as one of the productive ecosystem is part of an ecological system that can influence and influenced social system, in this case by people living around the seagrass ecosystem. This aim to estimating the socio-ecological vulnerability system of the seagrass ecosystem in the Kotania Bay Waters, the Linkage Matrix is used (de Chazal et al., 2008). This linkage matrix was created to determine the perception and understanding of the community on the ecosystem services provided by the seagrass ecosystem through the appraisal of various stakeholders. The results show that social values are rooted in the public perception of ecosystem goods and services, which are rarely considered. The ecological and economic value of natural resources is increasingly being used to determine the priority areas in the planning and management of coastal areas. The social value that exists in natural resources is highly recognized in conservation.

Coastal Communities Knowledge Level on Climate Change as a Consideration in Mangrove Ecosystems Management in the Kotania Bay, West Seram Regency

Knowledge of coastal communities on climate change will help communities to adapt that environmental condition. The purpose of this study is to investigate community knowledge level to climate change in the management of mangrove ecosystems in Kotania Bay.This study used a Guttman scale and descriptive analysis. The results showed the average level of community knowledge on climate change was 26.67%, while the average level of community knowledge on climate change adaptation was found only14.67%. Coastal community need some strategies to increase their knowledge on climate change.

Towards an ecosystem approach to small island fisheries: A preliminary study of a balanced fishery in Kotania Bay (Seram Island, Indonesia)

The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) is a holistic one as EAF considers all species as important elements within the eco-system. An EAF requires that community and ecosystem structure should be maintained by harvesting fish communities in proportion to their natural productivity, thereby sustaining the balance of species and sizes in a community. This article draws from research on the reef fish community and catch in Kotania Bay on Seram Island in Maluku, Indonesia, an area of approximately 6000ha. Based on the trophic guild (ie the aggregation of species utilizing similar food resources) on the reef, the biomass of predator fish currently being captured now represents 40.4% of the total catch biomass. Members of the grouper family, the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and trevally (Caranx melampygus) in particular, have become targeted for sale in fish markets. If these predators are selectively targeted and exploited, the overall reef fishery and the human populations that depend on it may become imperilled, given these species’ significant roles in controlling those lower in the food chain. This study thereby emphasizes the need for balanced fisheries informed by the EAF model in small island fisheries management in order to sustain food security in such regions.

Biodiversity and Biomass of Macroalgae in Kotania Bay Waters, West Seram

Research on biodiversity and biomass of macroalgae in Kotania Bay waters, West Seram, Mollucas was conducted on July and August 2010. There were 20 species of macroalgae collected, in which 8 species were green algae (Chlorophyceae), 6 species of brown algae (Phaeophyceae), and 6 species of red algae (Rhodophyceae). The highest biomass of algae were collected in Loupesi, as much as 127,01 g/m2, followed by Burung Island (119.42 g/m2), Wael (63.43 g/m2), and the lowest were found in Buntal Island (20.64 g/m2). The macroalgae found in sampling area were dominated by Halimeda, Padina and Sargassum. The highest biomass were found on Sargassum duplicatum (570.00 g/m2), Halimeda opuntia (271.33 g/m2), Gracillaria crassa (198.13 g/m2), and Sargassum crispivallum (178.00 g/m2). Keywords: Macroalgae, biodiversity, biomass, Kotania Bay, West Seram. ABSTRAK Penelitian tentang keanekaragaman dan biomassa makro algae di perairan Teluk Kotania, Seram Barat, Maluku telah dilakukan pada bulan Juli dan Agustus 2010. Algae yang dikumpulkan sebanyak 20 jenis, terdiri dari 8 jenis algae hijau (Chlorophyceae), 6 jenis algae coklat (Phaeophyceae) dan 6 jenis algae merah (Rhodophyceae). Biomassa algae tertinggi ditemukan di Loupesi yaitu 127,01 g/m2 dikuti Pulau Burung 119,42 g/m2, Wael 63,43 g/m2 dan terendah di Pulau Buntal 20,64 g/m2. Algae yang dominan adalah Halimeda, Padina dan Sargasum. Biomassa tertinggi diperoleh pada jenis Sargassum duplicatum (570,00 g/m2), Halimeda opuntia (271,33 g/m2), Gracilaria crassa (198,13 g/m2), dan Sargassum crispivallum (178,00 g/m2). Kata kunci: Makro algae, keanekaragaman, biomassa, Teluk Kotania, Seram Barat.

Carbon Stored on Seagrass Community in Marine Nature Tourism Park of Kotania Bay, Western Seram, Indonesia

Currently, the function of seagrass community as carbon storage has been discussed in line with “blue carbon” function of that seagrass has. Seagrass bed are a very valuable coastal ecosystem, however, seagrass bed is threatened if compared to other coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves and coral reefs. The threatened seagrass experienced also contributes to its capacity in absorbing CO2 emission from greenhouse gasses such as CO2 emission Temporal estimation shows that CO2 emission will increase in the coming decade. On the other side, efforts to decrease climate change can be influenced by the existence of seagrass. Informations about existence of seagrass as carbon storage are still very rare or limited. This study was aimed to estimate carbon storage on seagrass community in Marine Nature Tourism Park of Kotania Bay Area, Western Seram, Maluku Province. The quadrat transect method of 0.25 m2 for each plot was used to collect seagrass existence. The content of carbon in the sample of dry biomass of seagrass was analyzed in the laboratory using Walkley & Black method. The results showed that total carbon stored was higher in both Osi and Burung Islands of Kotania Bay than other studied areas (Buntal and Tatumbu Islands, Marsegu Island, Barnusang Peninsula, Loupessy and Tamanjaya Village). The average carbon stored in Kotania Bay waters was 2.385 Mg C ha-1, whereas the total of carbon stored was 2054.4967 Mg C.

Carbon Stored on Seagrass Community in Marine Nature Tourism Park of Kotania Bay, Western Seram, Indonesia

Carbon Stored on Seagrass Community in Marine Nature Tourism Park of Kotania Bay, Western Seram, Indonesia

Biological aspects ofMonacanthus tomentosus (Monacanthidae) in the seagrass beds of Kotania Bay, West Seram, Moluccas, Indonesia

The present study investigated the growth, mortality, recruitment and food habits ofMonacanthus tomentosus. A total of 1038 specimens were collected by beach seine from the seagrass beds of Kotania Bay (Moluccas, Indonesia) from March 1988 to January 1989. Their “length-weight relationship” wasW=0.011L 3.242. Based on the von Bertalanffy formula, the asymptotic length,L ∞, and growth coefficient,K, were determined as 11.79 cm and 0.86, respectively. Total mortality,Z, was low (2.033). Mean length of minimum capturable size (L c ) was 6.21 cm, and recruitment occurred throughout the year. Food consisted principally of gastropods (21.41%), seagrasses (14.11%), sponges (12.11%), algae (10.82%), amphipods (9.76%) and sedentary polychaetes (9.29%). Pelecypods, opisthobranchs, isopods, copepods, ostracods, foraminiferans, bryozoans, ascidians, nematodes, mollusc eggs and fish eggs were found only in small percentages.