Coral reef health and the distribution of soft coral abundance in Banten Bay Muhammad Haris Ramadhan Permana1, Beginer Subhan1, Dondy Arafat1, Sulistiono2, Fredinan Yulianda2
1) Department of Marine Science and Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, 16680
2) Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, 16680
Abstract
Banten Bay has several islands which also have coral reefs around them. Some of them are Panjang Island, Lima Island and Pamujan Besar Island. These island are also a tourist destination for the people around the Banten Bay. This study was carried out from October 2021-March 2022 at 9 observation points spread across the three islands. This study aims to determine the health of coral reefs and the distribution of soft coral abundance in the three islands. Coral reef data was taken through diving at the depth where coral reefs were first discovered at each station, using the Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) method. The observation line transect was stretched parallel to the shoreline for a length of 50 m. The data in the form of photos were taken using a square transect (58 cm x 44 cm) which was placed alternately in each meter. Based on the observation, the presences of soft coral found at Stations 1-8 were 0.21%, 0.99%, 0.70%, 13.89%,7.61%, 16,80%, 5,78%, and 4,62%, .respectively. Soft coral reefs were found at 8 stations, and it was not found at one station. Fairly large value of abundance was found at Station 4 (north of Panjang Island) and Station 6 (south of Pamujan Besar Island), while small value of abundances were found at Station 1 (south-east of Panjang Island), Station 3 (west of Panjang Island) dan Station 2 (south of Panjang Island). Based on KEPMEN LH No. 4 of 2001, the coral reefs around Pulau Panjang are categorized as bad (unhealthy) and medium (unhealthy).
