Fish Community at Parang Waters of Karimunjawa Island

Mangrove ecosystem is recognised as essential habitat for many species of fishes. The study was aimed to identify community structure of mangrove fishes of Parang Island, Karimunjawa Islands. Adult fish was trapped using gillnet, while its juvenile collected using a larva-net tow horizontally by small boat for 10-15 minutes of 2knot speed along the mangrove waters in the morning. Sample was initially preserved in 10% formaldehyde then in 70% alcohol prior to further identification. Fish abundance was estimated on each station, and ambient parameter (water and air temperature, water depth, clarity, pH and DO) was measured insitu. The result shown that at least 7 species of fishes were found in Parang Island i.e.: Apogon ceramensis, Sphaeramia orbicularis, Hypoatherina barnesi, Zenarchopterus dispar, Zenarchopterus gilli, Gerres argyreus, and Lethrinus lentjan which taxonomically belongs to 5 families i.e.; Apogonidae, Atherinidae, Hemiramphidae, Gerreidae, and Lethrinidae. Less species was found in June rather in September sampling period, which possibly indicating of fish recruitmen on that mangrove ecosystem. In total 28 fish species of 15 families were found across all study sites in Parang Island and its surrounding waters. Species diversity among different sampling time, such as in Batu Merah Station, was also varied which possibly indicating that the site is feeding ground for many species in the area.