Fishery potencies as environmental services of Pongok Islands, Bangka Belitung Province

Abstract

One of the islands with huge potential for fishery in South Bangka Regency is the Pongok Islands. Most of the people living in the islands depend on marine and fishery resources. This research aimed to figure out fishery potencies located in the surrounding island of Pongok related to capture fishery, fish food processing, and aquaculture. Data were gathered on field observation and interviews conducting on August 2022. Results of the research three main fishery activities in this area are capture fishery, fish product processing, and aquaculture. The capture fishery is taken for pelagic and coral fish. Some economic fish are anchovy, sardine, squids, and mackerel kingfish. Harvesting each commodity is different due to species and season of wind blowing as well as fishing gear. Fish products of the island are marketed in Toboali, Pangkal Pinang, and Belitung, and even transported to Pontianak and Jakarta. Aquaculture activity is only conducted for raising groupers using floating nets. Moreover, environmental aspects of mariculture, two new fishery commodities like seaweeds and pearl oysters, have the potential to be introduced into the islands. Environmental services have still contributed directly and indirectly to the fishery activities on the islands now and then.