ASSESSING IMPACT OF STINGRAY GILL NET FISHERY TO BYCATCH POPULATION AROUND BIDONG ISLAND, MALAYSIA

Abstract

This study assessed the bycatch composition around Bidong Island, Malaysia, and factors affecting its assemblages. Bycatch samples were collected monthly from January to December 2018 with supplementary samplings in February and October 2019. A total of 648 individuals of bycatch from 15 fish species were collected, which accounted for 84.2% of the total catch. The most dominant species were Alectis indica, Rachycentron canadum and Epinephelus areolatus. The abundance of bycatch varied significantly between seasons (P<0.05), whereas the species richness of the bycatch was not affected by season, depth and interaction of season and depth (P>0.05). The most abundant bycatch was found at a depth of 20 m in moderate rainy and rainy seasons. The non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination clearly separated the three major groups of the community structure of bycatch based on depth, but not season. It is therefore concluded that season affected bycatch abundance, and conversely, depth influenced the community structure of the bycatch from stingray gillnet.