Fish communities and fisheries of Sungai Johor and Sungai Pulai Estuaries

The mangrove estuarine systems of Sungai (Sg.) Johor and Sungai (Sg.) Pulai function as feeding, nursery and breeding areas for many marine fishes and invertebrates. A total of 130 species of fish and 17 species of prawns were recorded in Sg. Johor whereas in Sg. Pulai there were 105 species of fish and 15 species of prawns. The dominant fish families were Ambassidae, Clupeidae, Engraulididae, Leiognathidae, Ariidae and Sciaenidae. Penaeidae was the dominant prawn family. Ninety-one fish species (70%) recorded in Sg. Johor are exploited commercially, while in Sg. Pulai the number of fish species exploited commercially is 67 (63.8%). In both estuarine systems the small, mangrove-fringed creeks/tributaries harboured high densities of immature or juvenile forms. The Sg. Johor and Sg. Pulai estuarine systems are unique and complex containing several conjoint habitats such as mangroves, seagrass and seaweed beds. Sg. Johor, in addition, has coralline sponge beds in its lower reaches. This uniqueness is attested by the presence of a large number of species present, including several species of fish and invertebrates not previously known in Malaysian mangrove waters. The estuarine systems contribute substantially to fisheries but their contribution is relatively less important than the Matang and Klang mangrove systems of the peninsula