Current status of seagrass condition in coastal waters of Kendari Southeast Sulawesi Indonesia

Abstract

Seagrass is one of the most productive ecosystems in the shallow waters and has a significant role as shelter and nurseries for marine biotas. The coastal region of Kendari has seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef ecosystems. However, this ecosystem tends to be decreasing due to coastal development activities in the coastal area. This study aims to find out the seagrass condition in Kendari from 2015 to 2021. To analyze species composition and seagrass percent coverage the transect method refers to the Guideline of seagrass monitoring was applied. The determination of seagrass conditions refers to the Decree of Indonesia's state the Minister for the Environment no. 200 of 2004. The extant benthic habitats of seagrass were analyzed using satellite imagery data. Based on the analysis of the area of benthic habitat from the year 2015 to 2021, the data obtained in shows an increase from the year 2015 to 2017, and then decrease the year 2021.There were eight species recorded in the area such as Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodocea rutondata, Cymodocea serrulta, Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, Halodule pinifolia, and Syringodium isoetifolium. Based on its percentage cover four sites of seagrass are classified as "poor" (15%-24%) and two sites are classified as "healthy" (67%) and “less healthy” (59,3%) respectively. Overall, the condition of seagrass in the coastal waters of Kendari is “less healthy”.