Reef Fishes Community in the Candidate Sites for Lobster Restocking in Pangandaran and Trenggalek Waters, Indonesia

Arnenda, Gussasta; Mujiyanto, Mujiyanto; Riswanto, Riswanto; Wijaya, Danu; Sugianti, Yayuk; Syam, Amran Rony

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.383255.5839

Reef Fishes Community in the Candidate Sites for Lobster Restocking in Pangandaran and Trenggalek Waters, Indonesia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Research Center for Biota System, National Innovation Research Agency, Jalan Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km. 48, Cibinong, Bogor, 16911 West Java, Indonesia

² Research Center for Biota Systems, National Innovation Research Agency, Jalan Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km. 48, Cibinong, Bogor, 16911 West Java, Indonesia

³ Research Institute for Fisheries Enhancement, Agency for Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia

⁴ Research Institute for Freshwater Aquaculture and Fisheries Extension, Agency for Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia

10.21608/ejabf.2025.383255.5839

Abstract

Lobster restocking has been introduced as a conservation strategy to enhance depleted wild stocks and support sustainable fisheries production. The survival rate of juvenile lobsters during restocking depends on ecological factors such as habitat quality and predation risk from reef fishes. This study analyzed the composition, distribution, and diversity of reef fish communities classified as lobster predators and non-predators in Pangandaran and Trenggalek Waters, Indonesia. Data were collected using the Stationary Visual Census method in May–June 2015. Although the dataset is ten years old, it serves as a valuable ecological baseline for assessing long-term reef fish community patterns at potential lobster restocking sites. The ratio between predator and non-predator reef fish in Pangandaran was 1:6, while in Trenggalek it was 1:9. Predatory fish diversity was higher in Pangandaran, dominated by nine species (57 individuals), whereas Trenggalek was recorded with eight species (19 individuals). Diversity and evenness indices ranged from moderate to high, with no dominant species detected. The most suitable sites for lobster restocking were identified as West and East Pananjung (Pangandaran) and Karang Gongso and North Damas (Trenggalek), which exhibited low predator abundance and high ecological stability.

Keywords