Southeast Sulawesi Coral Reef Distribution Mapping Using Landsat 8 Satellite Imagery

The need of coral reef distribution information at Southeast Sulawesi is crucial nowadays due the application of fish preservation and protection. Satellite imaging technology is known as an effective tool for this purpose. This study objective was to mapping and estimating the area of coral reef at Southeast Sulawesi. Seven scenes of landsat 8 imageries were processed using water column correction to produce depth invariant index as a basis for substrate classification. Field survey was conducted at five coastal regency using echo sounding and video mapping geo-referenced technologies. The coral reef extent scenario was developed base on three dominant substrates: coral, submerged vegetation and sand. This study was successfully mapping around 167,472 hectares of Southeast Sulawesi coral reef. Wakatobi regency was the most coral reef area able to map. The coral substrate area at Southeast Sulawesi was estimate around 22.7 thousand to 41.3 thousand hectares. While submerged vegetation occupy area around 56.9 thousand to 97.9 thousand hectares and sand substrate cover around 28.2 thousand to 87.9 thousand hectares of total\ud area mapped. If moderate scenario was chosen then the extent of coral substrate, submerged vegetation and sand are around 31.4 thousand, 63.8 thousand and 72.2 thousand hectares respectively. This update information is expected may help decision maker on how to manage coral reef resources related to endangered fish conservation at Southeast Sulawesi