Assessment of Biophysical Potential of Suitability and Carrying Capacity in Bontosua Island, Pangkep District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia Chumaerah Febrianti, Andi Niartiningsih, Budimawan
Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Abstract
Bontosua Island is considered as one of the islands in Pangkajene and Islands Regency which has potential coastal and marine resources that can be developed through conservation and ecotourism approaches. The biggest attraction resource is the coral reefs, which makes it necessary to develop marine tourism as an effort to protect the ecological system. The main objective of this study is to determine the bio-physical potential and coastal resources, as well as to analyze the suitability and carrying capacity for diving tourism and beach recreation activities. The research was conducted from July to October 2022. The method for analyzing the condition of the coral reefs was carried out using the UPT (underwater photo transect) method with the help of CPCe software. Apart from that, other analyzes used in this research were reef fish density, land suitability, area carrying capacity and spatial analysis. Based on observations of live coral cover at 4 observation stations ranging from 36.86% to 67.69%, which in general, the most common type of coral reef found in the study area was non-Acropora coral species while for Acropora coral species was rarely found in the study area. The analysis results of the marine tourism suitability in the diving tourism category for Station III are in the very suitable category, while three stations (Station I, Station II, and Station IV) are included in the appropriate category. Regional Carrying Capacity (RCC) for diving tourism is around 702 people/day and RCC for beach recreation tourism is around 46 people/day.
Keywords: Suitability analysis, carrying capacity, diving, beach recreation, Bontosua Island
