IDENTIFICATION OF CORAL REEF CONDITIONS IN SUNGAI CUKA VILLAGE, KINTAP DISTRICT OF TANAH LAUT REGENCY, SOUTH KALIMANTAN PROVINCE OF INDONESIA

Abstract

Tanah Laut Regency has a very strategic potential in tourism development in South Kalimantan Province, so it is deemed necessary to conduct underwater research with the aim of identifying coral reef types, knowing the condition of coral cover and knowing the physical and chemical conditions of the waters of the SungaiCuka Village, Kintap District. Coral reef ecosystems around the waters of Sungai Cuka village, KintapDistrict only found 1 type of Acropora coral lifeform, namely Acropora tabulate (ACT), and 4 Non-Acropora species namely Coral branching (CB), Coral massive (CM), Coral encrusting (CE), Coral foliose (CF), Coral reef cover range survival ranged from 1.88% to 46.38%. Therefore, the condition of coral reefs around the sea waters of Sungai Cuka Village, Kintap District ranges from low to fair based on coral reef assessment criteria according to Indonesia Environment Minister’s Decree, No. 4/2011. Almost all water quality parameters measured: temperature, brightness, current speed, salinity, pH and DO are still within the tolerance limits of water quality standards, except for brightness which is below the quality standard threshold, which is between 3 - 3.5 meters and salinity which ranges from 35 - 40 above the quality standard threshold based on the IndonesiaEMinister of Environment Decree No. 51/2004.