Effect of Coconut Leaves, Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) as Artificial Bait on the Catch of Fish Traps at Telaga Batin Water, Terengganu

Abstract

Highlight1.     Coconut leaves, as artificial bait on the catch of fish traps2.     Coconut palm as artificial bait on the catch of fish traps3.     Fish species and bycatch species in traps with different baitsAbstractFish trap is one of the most frequently used fishing devices by people around the world. The purposes of this study are to determine fish species and bycatch species in traps with different baits such as coconut leaves, regular fish bait, and without bait at Telaga Batin waters. Coconut leaves from coconut palm, (Cocos nucifera) were used as artificial fish bait, replacing normal live bait. Nine traps with the size of 4 m x 2 m x 6 m of steel structure framed with galvanized wire mesh of 1.5 inches were immersed for 48 hours at different depth (15m, 20m and 25m). The whole procedure was repeated four times with a total of 20 types of species and 132 individuals in total were caught. One-way ANOVA was chosen to analyze data collected. The value calculated was not significant for fish traps with coconut leaves (P >0.168) compared to fish traps with normal live bait (P <0.022), the devices with artificial bait were able to catch several cuttlefishes. Individually, traps with normal bait were able to get more species, but in terms of species value, traps with coconut leaves have the advantage as cuttlefish being more valuable in the market compared to certain demersal fishes.