Integrate of culture area for seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) and fishing ground for Stripped Mullet (Mugil cephalus) in marine coastal waters

Abstract

Seaweed culture play role in human food, animal feed, and environmental quality. The intensively study of seaweed culture was conducted in many places. The need to assess seaweed production, fish catch and the water quality of the seaweed culture area was necessary. The present study investigates the integrated system for seaweed culture and fishing ground for Mugil cephalus in marine coastal waters area. The purpose of study was to assess the production of cultured seaweed (Eucheuma Cottonii) and caught Stripped Mullet (Mugil cephalus) in marine coastal waters. The study was conducted from October 2019 until March 2020 in southern marine coastal waters of Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The method of seaweed culture was longline with a rope length of 50 and the distance between rope stretches of 1 meter with the average number of rope stretches 50 stretches perunit. Stripped Mullet was caught using a surface gillnet 100 length, 2.5 m depth and 1,3/4 inch mesh size. The water quality such as water temperature, salinity, pH, brightness, current velocity was measured. The production of seaweed in this area during planting period between 40-45 days ranged 8.300-11.600 kg wet/ha and catch Stripped Mullet ranged 43-162 individuals/one day trip. The results of study suggest that a seaweed culture influence on the production of cultured seaweed and caught mullet in marine coastal waters. The water quality parameters during study were favorable for seaweed production grey mullet fish catching.