1. Research Proposal Seasonal Changes of Fish Composition and Diversity in Pull Net (Pukat Tarik) Fishery in the Coastal Waters of Bintulu, Sarawak UTTAM KUMAR Matric No.- GS46389 Program- MS by Research Biodiversity and Natural Resources Conservation Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences UPMKB

2. Introduction Offshore fishing in the marine waters of Bintulu is done through different types of gear and crafts. Pull net (Pukat Tarik) is one of most common gear of them. From 1,59,826MT of landed fisheries, 384 MT of fish caught by Pukat Tarik in Sarawak state (DOF’2013). Estimation of fish abundance always been required for fisheries management and to determine the effects of fishing (Cappo and Brown, 1996; Jalal et al., 2012). In Malaysia, changes in fish species composition and abundance over time in marine ecosystem are generally not well studied (Choo,1998). In Sarawak, 1 st fisheries survey operated in 1972 by Fisheries Research Institute, Penang on demersal resources and from 1977 Fisheries Department, Sarawak started it’s own surveying each year (Gambang,1986). So, Pukat Tarik capture data in different season is very urgent and important for fisheries resource management and to identify the negative impact on fisheries in Sarawak.

3. Problem Statement Fish stock assessment is a growing necessity in southeast Asian region bordering the South-China seawater (Rajali et al., 1997). Several studies were done on fish diversity and composition in the waters of Sarawak. Those studies and surveys were completed figuring on trawl, Purse seine,Gill net etc. But composition and diversity of Pukat Tarik fishery in Bintulu coast relating to seasonal alteration is not well documented.

4. Objectives The aims of this research in Bintulu coast is to- investigate the catch composition and diversity of fish caught by Pukat Tarik allied to seasonal variances in the coastal area of Bintunu. observe the eco-biological parameters of water in the study area and their relationship with fish abundance in the study area. investigate the impact of using small mesh size in Pukat Tarik fishing on marine fishery activity of Binutlu through measuring Length-Weight relationship.

5. Research Questions/ Hypothesis  Does the availability of different species really impacted by season to season?  In what level of extent the hydro ecological factors influence the species composition of fishes in the waters of Bintulu?  If some exotic species will be found during a particular season, is that accidental or because of the season and other hydro biological factor?  If smaller mesh size net set up in the cod end of a Pukat Tarik that will cause more exploitation of undersized fish which will negatively effect on coastal fishery.

6. Methods

7. Study area

8. Sample collection Samples of fish will be collected from Pukat Tarik fishing crafts in Bintulu coastal areas. Sample will be collected in different seasons from May- September (Southwest Monson), October (Inter-Monsoon), November-March (Northwest Monsoon) and April (Inter Monsoon) by 2 replicates in each season. For each replicate, Pukat tarik will be hauled by boat in 1 hour. Later it will be converted to Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE)/hr. Samples will be preserved in 10% formalin and carried to Lab for further study. Fish identification will be done using the book by Ambak et al. (2010) & Matsunuma et al. (2011). Integrated Photo-based Online Fish-Identification System(IPOFIS) and IPez (morphometric software).

9. Length-Weight Relationship Length-Weight relationship will be measured to investigate the impact of using small mesh size in Pukat Tarik & measuring Biomass too by method of Schneider et al.(2000). The length-weight relationship will established the biomass, growth, and reproduction of fish being caught in the marine waters of Bintulu using linear regression analysis.

10. Procedures Sample collection from site Preservation Identification process Measurements and Photograph (Ambak et al., 2010) Separation of fish by species

11. Observation of Eco-biological parameters In-situ observation of Temperature, pH, Salinity, Turbidity, Dissolved oxygen, Total dissolved solid will be recorded simultaneously during fish sampling by water quality meter.(Hydro Lab-Model-DS5X). For analysis of water nutrients from the sampling areas 3 replicates of surface water in each season will be collected and analyzed for dissolved ammonium by the methods of Weatherburn (1967), nitrate and inorganic phosphate by following Parsons (1984). Chlorophyll ἁ concentration will be estimated following the method described by Coombs & Hall (1982). Hydro Lab (DS5X)

12. Collection of Planktons  Plankton samples will be collected following 3 replicates in each season using zooplankton net (mesh size 150 μm) and phytoplankton net (mesh size 20 μm) and a flow meter will be used at the net mouth to have the reading water volume being passed.  5% formalin for zooplankton and 2% formalin for phytoplankton to preserve the sample.  Quantitative analysis of phytoplankton used the methods described by Newell & Newell (1973) & Sukhanova (1978) and zooplankton by Smith & and Johnson (1996).  Phytoplankton identification will be done using “Identifying Marine Phytoplankton-by C.R. Tomas. & “Phytoplankton-by A.D.Boney.  Zooplankton identification will be done using “ A manual of Zooplankton-by K.Altaff & “Introduction to The Common Marine Zooplankton of Peninsular Malaysia-by Paul L. Arvin”.

13. Plankton Net Images Plankton Net sampling Flow Meter

14. Data Analysis ANOVA (SAS) will be used to evaluates data sets of the samples among seasons. The diversity Index (H’), species richness (D) and species evenness (J) were determined using Species Diversity Richness (SDR) 4.1.2 software (Seaby & Henderson 2006).

15. Expected Outcomes Catch composition and fish species diversity by Pukat Tarik fishery with its seasonal abundance in Bintulu coastal area will be known. Diversity of fishery resources over different season caught by Pukat Tarik will be documented. Will provide a groundwork data of fish species. From this index anyone easily come to know when and which fish species is available in Pukat Tarik fishery in Bintulu coast. Negative impact of Pukat Tarik on fishery resources in the coastal areas of Bintulu will be known. Image of fish species rareness and evenness of Bintulu coast will be established.

16. RESEARCH SCHEDULE PROGRESSION 2016 2017 MONTHMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDecJanFeb MarchApr 1 Research study & Preparation for Sampling 2 Sampling 3Data Analysis 4Writing 5 Submission thesis

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19. Reference conti. UNEP 2007. National Reports on the Fish Stocks and Habitats of Regional, Global and Trans boundary Significance in the South China Sea. UNEP/GEF/SCS Technical Publication No. 15