Spatial and temporal distribution of anchovy density in Inner Ambon Bay on dry season (December-February)

Abstract

Inner Ambon Bay is a small pelagic fish fishing ground, especially anchovy. Anchovy plays important role in the skipjack fishery as live bait in Ambon city. Nevertheless, research for its resource management is rarely done. The aims of the research are to obtain information of density, vertical distribution and horizontal distribution of anchovy on Dry Season. Densities data of anchovy were collected using hydro-acoustic device at six parallel transect lines and one cross- parallel transect line. Geo-statistical analysis technique was used to describe horizontal distribution of anchovy meanwhile, to observe vertical distribution pattern, vertical anchovy data was plotted on the graph. Result shows that lower average density of anchovy was found in January while higher density was in February. On vertical distribution, anchovy was distributed from near surface to 35 m depth layer, but higher densities were found at 25 m depth layer in December and February respectively and in January at 30 m of depth layer. On horizontal distribution, lower density of anchovy occupies a large space, in contrast, higher density was in small fish schools occupy a small space and are scattered in given parts of Inner Ambon Bay but at differ locations between months.