SPECIES COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CUTTLEFISH LANDED AT TANJUNG LUAR FISH LANDING SITE EAST LOMBOK DISTRICT

Abstract

Cuttlefish are a fishery resource classified under the class Cephalopods. The potential for cuttlefish fisheries in Indonesia is quite significant, considering the country has vast and diverse marine waters. The demand for fishery products, including cuttlefish, both in domestic and international markets, continues to increase. Despite the great potential, sustainable management and protection of marine ecosystems are key to ensuring that the utilization of these resources does not harm the environment and can continue in the long term. Research on the species composition and biological aspects of cuttlefish is necessary to understand the condition of the aquatic ecosystem. Data collection was carried out using the accidental sampling method and direct surveys conducted. A total of 457 specimens were obtained during the study. Data analysis included species composition analysis, gender analysis, and the analysis of the length-weight relationship of cuttlefish. The result of this study shows that the captured cuttlefish consists of two species: Sepia latimanus and Sepia pharaonis. The number of males is higher than females; however, the ratio is approximately 1:1. Based on this result, the sex ratio is categorized as nearly balanced, with a ratio of 1:1. The length-weight relationship of all landed cuttlefish, specifically the two species Sepia latimanus and Sepia pharaonis, shows a negative allometric growth, where length growth is faster than weight growth. The purpose of this study is to determine the composition of the type, sex ratio and the relationship between the length and weight of the landed cuttlefish.