ASSESSMENT OF SAND LOBSTER (PANULIRUS HOMARUS) RESOURCES IN PALABUHANRATU WATERS OF SUKABUMI, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Abstract

Lobster fisheries resources are popular food commodities with high economic value. Consequently, lobsters are captured globally and have very high selling prices. Palabuhanratu Bay is one of the lobster fisheries centers in West Java, Indonesia. Sand lobster (Panulirus homarus), one of the lobster species in Palabuhanratu Bay, has experienced a decrease in the catch. This research aims to (1) examine the sand lobster population based on biological aspect and population dynamics aspect; (2) identify the utilization status and management of sand lobster resources. Population parameter was analyzed using the FISAT II program and Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) potential assessment. The results showed that sand lobster carapace length ranged between 30-101 mm with 97.6% carapace length below 8 cm. The growth pattern of sand lobsters was negative allometric. The Lc <Lr value indicated that female sand lobsters have been caught before reaching the mean size at onset of spawning. Asymptotic length (L∞) of male sand lobsters was smaller than female sand lobsters, while growth coefficient (K) of male sand lobsters was faster than female sand lobsters. The rate of exploitation (E) values for male and female sand lobsters showed above optimum values of 0.59 and 0.61. The sustainable potential and lobster resource utilization level in WPP 573 Waters was 662.93 tons/year and 910 thousand trips with nets as standard fishing gears. Catch fluctuated with a decreasing trend and the rate of exploitation above the optimum value. It indicated that overfishing has occurred.

Keywords

• FISAT II
• sand lobsters
• MSY
• Panulirus homarus
• Palabuhanratu Bay