Ocean sunfishes, Molidae, comprise the world’s heaviest bony fishes. They include the short mola,Mola ramsayi(Giglioli 1883), an important tourist draw at Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, Bali, where SCUBA divers can observe ectoparasite-laden individuals being cleaned by smaller reef fishes. Despite widespread appeal, little is known about these fishes relative to regional oceanography. We present the first behavioral information for this species anywhere in the world. Satellite tag data indicate a wide thermal range (10–27.5°C) with depth occupation mostly (95%) in the upper 250 m and habitat preference near the bottom of the warm surface layer. One tag popped off as scheduled after 6 months off Nusa Penida, <10 km from its original deployment. The 3 other tags popped off prematurely: 747 km southeast 89 days after deployment; 142 km south after 7 days of deployment; and 162 km south after 24 days of deployment. Amid mounting tourist pressures and bycatch ofM. ramsayiin eastern regions of Indonesia, such as Alor, behavioral information of this species is essential for effective management and conservation of this valuable marine ecotourism asset.

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Abstract. Askar H, Tahang H, Sutinah S, Fakhriyyah S, Bahar A, Tresnati J, Tuwo A. 2021. Short Communication: Using ecological parameters to assess the sustainability of mangrove ecotourism in Jeneponto, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3571-3577. Mangrove forest is an essential ecosystem that provides various ecosystem services. Among various land use management in mangrove areas, ecotourism is considered as a sustainable economic activity that can improve socio-economic benefits while conserving the mangrove ecosystem. Therefore, ecotourism management must refer to sustainable development principles. This study aims to assess the sustainability status of mangrove forests in Idaman Mangrove Ecotourism in Balang Baru Village, Tarowang Sub-district, Jeneponto District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia using some parameters including the extent, density and diversity of mangrove vegetation, tidal height and animal biota that occurred in the mangroves. The study used line transect method and quadrat transect, and the data were analyzed using Rapfish (Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries) method. The study indicated that the sustainability status of IME for the ecological dimension was in the entirely sustainable category with an ecological dimension value was 58.50. While the mangrove is currently managed sustainably, to go further, it requires all stakeholders' cooperation in improving the dimensions of sustainability, which had a low value, especially the mangrove trees thickness.

The rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus population has been exploited intensively in the Jeneponto Regency South Sulawesi by fishermen used non selective fishing gear, throughout the year even the spawning season. The intensive fishing without management policy can caused decreasing of the rabbit fish population, and if it continues population will be collapse. This study was conducted to investigate some of the reproductive biological study of this species. A total of 1821 specimens of S. canaliculatus consisting of 1436 males and 385 females were randomly collected on a monthly from fishers in the coastal waters of the Jeneponto, South Sulawesi. The fecundity and gonad stage were studied for 39 female individuals varied between 85 and 284 mm total length (TL). Egg diameters were determined using the microscope. The overall sex ratio (Males: Females) ranged from 1.7: 1 to 8.2:1 The estimation of fecundity was between 5416 and 130760 eggs.ind-1, and increased with fish length, body weight and gonad weight. Egg diameter of S. canaliculatus in this study ranged from 0.1-0.5 of stage III. 0.35-0.45 of stage IV, 0.1-0.55 of stage V, and 0.35-0.55 of stage VI. Egg diameters increased with increased fish length. Egg diameters increased with increased fish length.

Wrasses are reef fish that play an important role in maintaining the health of coral reef ecosystems. Some species of wrasse, such as the Napoleon wrasse Cheilinus undulates, have high economic value and are threatened with overexploitation. This study aims to analyse the species diversity of wrasses caught by fishermen operating in the Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study was conducted from January 2018 to May 2019, on a monthly basis. Sampling was carried out by collecting all wrasses landed on one chosen day at Makassar Fisheries Port. The species diversity parameters observed were the species name and the number of individuals of each species. Based on these data, the diversity index, evenness index, domination index, and similarity index were calculated. Wrasse diversity was always in the medium range, indicating that ecologically wrasse habitat is still quite productive and has remained balanced over a considerable period time. It appeared that capture fisheries had not caused serious problems for the wrasse community diversity and structure.