Vulnerability of endemic bilih fish Mystacoleucus padangensis Bleeker, 1852 in Lake Singkarak, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Bilih fish (Mystacoleucus padangensis) is an endemic species in Lake Singkarak, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It has high economic value, rich in nutrition and as an export commodity. Bilih dominated the catch in Lake Singkarak. The excessive fishing causes fish population decline. There has been an indication of stock decrease and overfishing exploitation status. Fisheries management needs to carry out to maintain the sustainability of bilih fish. This study was conducted to determine the vulnerability status of bilih fish as an information for bilih fish management. Data analysis was carried out using Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA). PSA is a semiquantitative risk assessment method used to assess the impact of fisheries on fish stocks. Based on 11 productivity and 12 susceptibility attributes, this study was conducted. The results showed that the vulnerability index was in the high category (v=2.1) and the productivity parameter value (p=1.3) lower than the susceptibility value (s=2.3), indicating bilih status is vulnerable to over fishing and need to be maintained.