Potential Region for development of seaweed genus Eucheuma cottonii based on ENSO variability in east coast of Tarakan Island, Indonesia

Abstract

Eucehuma cottonii is one of seaweed type that has high economic and important ecosystem for people living at coastal areas such as at the east coast of Tarakan island. This research aimed to analyse potential region of Eucheuma cottonii against ENSO variability. The suitability level required form calculation of sea surface temperature, total suspended solids, salinity, and dissolved oxygen (DO) in the east coast of Tarakan island. Remote sensing of Landsat 8 OLI has been applied to study environmental changes of those variables. The results showed the spatial and temporal condition of the Amal Coast conditions strongly influenced by the ENSO variability and it became barrier factor on the suitability of Eucheuma cottoni cultivation. In the In the El Nino period, the coast of northern and centre of east coast Tarakan Island shows the most potential areas for seaweed cultivation while in the period of La Nina the most potential area is along the coast and dominated in all parts of east coast Tarakan Island. Overall, in the La Nina period the potential area for seaweed cultivation was wider than El Nino.