REEF FISH STOCK ASSESSMENT IN SEA WATERS AROUND SERAM ISLAND, MALUKU PROVINCE

The assessment aimed to estimate the status of fish stock and fishery, and the potential production of the fishery in the area. The study area covered sea waters from shallow waters to 500-meter depth, which is part of Indonesia's Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 715. The assessment used statistical data of catch landed in Maluku Province published by the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DGCF) and length-frequency data collected by the USAID SEA Project. The methods used for the assessment included the CMSY method from Froese et al. (2016) and the LB-SPR method from Hordyk (2015). The results of the assessment were presented and discussed during a virtual meeting with the DKP of Maluku Province and local university in Ambon. The main reef fish species targeted by fishers in North Maluku Province are red snapper and grouper, which belong to the Lutjanid and Serranid Families, respectively. Other species commonly caught by fishermen include the families Caesionidae and Lethrinidae. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has estimated the potential yield and determined the status of reef fish stock in FMA 715 based on the result of the stock assessment. However, the possibility of the existence of several stocks of reef fish in FMA 715 separated by sea waters of more than 500 m depth has been indicated by the result of a morphometric study of L. malabaricus or P. leopardus in FMA 715 conducted by Zamroni et al. (2020). The result of the morphometric analysis showed that the Malabar blood snapper in FMA 715 consisted of three stocks, namely Raja Ampat, Pagimana, and Ternate stocks. Meanwhile, the Leopard coral grouper in FMA 715 were clustered into two different groups. The objectives of the activity were to present the assessment result of reef fish stock and fishery in sea waters around Seram Island, Maluku Province, to discuss the status of reef fish stock and fishery in sea waters around Seram Island, Maluku, and to identify issues, proposed management objectives, and management measures to be implemented. The presentation and discussion were conducted during a virtual meeting with the DKP of Maluku Province and local university in Ambon. The assessment results showed that the reef fish stock in sea waters around Seram Island, Maluku Province, is affected by the depth of seawaters. The main reef fish species targeted by fishers in the area are red snapper and grouper, which belong to the Lutjanid and Serranid Families, respectively. The assessment also showed that the reef fish stock in the area is composed of several stocks separated by sea waters of more than 500 m depth. The management of reef fish stock in sea waters around Seram Island, Maluku Province, is the responsibility of the Provincial Government. To improve the management of reef fish stock in the area, it is necessary to assess its fish stock and fishery to estimate the status of fish stock and fishery, and the potential production of the fishery. The assessment results can be used as a lesson learned and as an input in the formulation of reef fisheries management strategy. The USAID SEA Project and the DKP of Maluku Province conducted a virtual meeting to present and discuss the result of the assessment of reef fish stock and fishery in the waters around Seram Island, Maluku Province. The meeting was attended by representatives from the DKP of Maluku Province and local university in Ambon. The presentation and discussion were conducted in a hybrid virtual and offline format. The assessment results were presented and discussed during the meeting, and the participants identified issues, proposed management objectives, and management measures to be implemented. The meeting was a success, and the assessment results were disseminated to the DKP of Maluku Province and local university in Ambon as a lesson learned and as an input in the formulation of reef fisheries management strategy. The reef fish stock assessment in sea waters around Seram Island, Maluku Province, was conducted using statistical data of catch landed in Maluku Province published by the DGCF and length-frequency data collected by the USAID SEA Project. The methods used for the assessment included the CMSY method from Froese et al. (2016) and the LB-SPR method from Hordyk (2015). The results of the assessment showed that the reef fish stock in the area is affected by the depth of seawaters and is composed of several stocks separated by sea waters of more than 500 m depth. The management of reef fish stock in sea waters around Seram Island, Maluku Province, is the responsibility of the Provincial Government. To improve the management of reef fish stock in the area, it is necessary to assess its fish stock and fishery to estimate