KELIMPAHAN STOK DAN PENGEMBANGAN SUAKA IKAN ARWANA IRIAN Scleropages jardinii (Saville-Kent, 1892) DI SUNGAIMARO, KABUPATEN MERAUKE, PROVINSI PAPUA

Eksploitasi anak ikan arwana Irian (Scleropages jardinii) di Sungai Maro berlangsung cukup intensif, namun belum didasarkan pada besaran stok yang tersedia serta prinsip-prinsip kelestarian sumber daya. Penelitian yang bertujuan untuk mengkaji kelimpahan stok induk dan mengidentifikasi kelayakan kawasan suaka ikan arwana Irian di Sungai Maro telah dilakukan pada bulan Maret, Juli, Nopember, dan Desember 2007, bulan Januari dan Februari 2008. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan metode survei melalui percobaan penangkapan dan pengamatan karakteristik ekologis perairan. Calon suaka ikan arwana yang sesuai ditentukan berdasarkan pada penilaian kriteria karaktristik ekologis perairan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kelimpahan stok induk ikan arwana diperkirakan antara 2.367-4.206 ekor atau rata-rata antara 1,6-2,8 ekor per hektar yang dapat menghasilkan anak antara 201.305-250.215 ekor dengan rata-rata 225.760 ekor permusim pemijahan. Jika kuota anak ikan arwana ditetapkan 50% dari total produksi anak arwana maka jumlah anak arwana yang boleh dieskploitasi dari Sungai Maro 112.800 ekor per musim pemijahan. Berdasarkan pada hasil pengamatan karakteristik habitat ikan arwana di 20 lokasi pengamatan, empat lokasi yaitu kawasan Rawa Walaya, Mouwer, Ordo, dan Barkei merupakan daerah yang paling sesuai untuk pengembangan suaka ikan arwana. In Maro River, Merauke Regency, Papua Province, saratoga (Scleropages jardinii) fries has been exploited intensively but has not been based on the stock abundance and the sustainable principles of the resources. A study aimed to assess saratoga brood stocks abundance and to identify a suitable area for their conservation was conducted at Maro River in March, July, November, and December 2007, January and February 2008. An experimental fishing and observation of ecological characteristics of the water body was conducted. Scoring criteria of ecological characteristics were used to determine a suitable habitat for saratoga conservation area. Results of the study showed that the saratoga brood stocks abundance was estimated beetwen 2,367-4,206 individuals or an average between 1.6-2.8 individuals per hectar and yielded the saratoga fries between 201,305-250,215 individuals or an average of 225,760 individuals fries per spawning season. If the saratoga fries quota was determined about 50% of the total fries yield so that number of saratoga fries allows to be exploited at Maro River was 112,800 individuals per spawning season. Based on the observation of 20 habitat characteristics of the saratoga at Maro River, it is indicated that the area of Rawa Walaya, Mouwer, Ordo and Barkei were suitable area for saratoga conservation