Fisheries biology and population dynamics: Key attributes for scyphozoan fisheries resources management in Saleh Bay, Indonesia

Abstract

The main benefit of edible jellyfish/scyphozoan (Crambione mastigophora) fisheries in the Saleh Bay is to increase the fishers' income. The scyphozoans blooming take place during SeptemberDecember, almost every year. The current research aimed to identify and describe the fisheries biology and population dynamics of scyphozoans. The samples were collected during October 2017-March 2018. Data collection method was survey-dependent through the sampling technique. For data processing, multiple applications were used. The scyphozoans fisheries’ status was estimated using the comparative method, between the data processing results and the standard values from previous studies. Production (i.e. fishing) of medusivorous fishes may result in increased scyphozoans blooms. The umbrella’s diameter of 1 year old scyphozoans reached 18.15 cm. The scyphozoans natural mortality rate was very high, whereas scyphozoan spawning did not take place every month. The peak of scyphozoan recruitment took place in September and October. The study revealed that the status of biomass trend was decreasing gradually. Jellyfish exploitation status was overexploited and the utilization status showed excessive exploitation. Referring to all statuses that rely on the harvest management and the stock security, it is recommended that decision-makers should conduct regular assessments for the scyphozoan fisheries in order to sustain such fishing resources.