Spatial distribution of sea cucumber and their management effort in seagrass ecosystems in Buntal Island, Western Seram Regency

Abstract

Sea cucumbers belong in the Echinoderms and some of them have a high economic value. The demand for sea cucumber as an export commodity encourages multispecies hunting with various sizes. The objective of this research was to determine the ecological parameters and spatial distribution of sea cucumber. Sampling was conducted in Buntal Island waters from March to June 2017, using the belt transect method. The results showed that there were 12 species of sea cucumbers, of which the Holothuria atra has the highest potential value, density, and frequency of presence compared to Opheodesoma grisea from the 4 stations area. The species diversity index (H') is in the medium category, the compatibility index (E) is in the stable community, the species dominance value (D) is low. The Morisita index value shows a uniform, random, and group distribution. The sea cucumber is found to distribute in almost all substrates i.e. sand, muddy sand, and sandy mud associated with seagrass. Three management strategies were proposed namely conservation and protection efforts, restrictions on the number and size of sea cucumber caught in a certain period, and improve the understanding and community knowledge of sustainability of the marine natural resources.