THE DETECTION OF PELAGIC FISH USING HYDROACOUSTIC IN PALU BAY, CENTRAL SULAWESI

Yield and catch data obtained from statistic and fisheries commercial data are incomplete and inaccurate. Effort to increase the accurate data and survey method become necessary to estimate the yield potential in Indonesia. The aim of this study is to detect the pelagic schooling (target strength/TS approach) by using hydroacoustic. Those detection are used to describe insitu condition of pelagic fishes in Palu Bay, Central Celebes. Result of this study showed that the range of TS interval of pelagic schooling are between -70dB to -40dB, found about 23 schools. Based on depth strata, dominant schooling (12 schools) found in 100 to 150 m, then followed by 9 schools in 0 to 50 m and 2 schools in 50 to 100 m. fish caught in Palu Bay that landed in Labuan Bajo fishing port dominate by large pelagic. Those information are relevant with the TS data. The longest size of skipjack is 74 cm in depth of 142 m. Medium size of the smallest value of 5 cm in depth 57 m with an average size of 27.8 cm.