Study of First Gonad Maturity Size and Octopus Spawning Season in Alas Strait of West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||
| Article 22, Volume 29, Issue 4, July and August 2025, Pages 415-426 PDF (653.14 K) | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.440923 | ||
| Author | ||
| Mulyani et al. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Sustainable octopus fisheries rely on key biological data such as size at first maturity and spawning periods to guide regulations that protect populations and support coastal ecosystem resilience. This study aimed to examine the size at first gonad maturity and the spawning season patterns of octopus to provide a scientific basis for developing sustainable management strategies, such as setting minimum catch sizes, establishing conservation zones, and implementing fishing closures, in order to preserve population sustainability and strengthen coastal ecosystem resilience. Octopus, which has high economic value, is difficult to breed on a large scale due to high costs and low success rates. Over the past decade, octopus stocks have declined, raising concerns about overexploitation. Effective management strategies are needed, focusing on environmental conditions, feed availability, and reproduction to support sustainable octopus populations. The study was conducted for 12 months from July 2023 to June 2024 in the Alas Strait, West Nusa Tenggara Province. The main purpose of collecting Octopus specimens is laboratory analysis. The results show that octopus reaches its first gonad maturity at a dorsal mantle length of 114.82 mm for males and 116.55 mm for females. The corresponding maturity weights are 995.26 g for males and 1514.46 g for females. The peak spawning period occurs from March to June. Based on these findings, the next step is to formulate a minimum catch size policy for octopus. This policy aims to ensure that individuals have reached sexual maturity before being harvested. The results of this study, which determine the first gonad maturity size of octopus in the Alas Strait waters, can serve as a basis for establishing sustainable catch size limits. This will support the development of a fundamental management strategy for octopus, ensuring its sustainable utilization in the Alas Strait. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Octopus; Gonad maturity size; Spawning season; Indonesian waters | ||
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