Selective Gap Analysis of the Escape Hatch in the Umbrella Trap with Six Doors for the Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus pelagicus)

Abstract

The blue swimming crab fishermen in Teluk Makassar, Lantebung Village tend to exploit the blue swimming crab resources without considering Sustainable Fisheries and environmental sustainability by using non-environmentally friendly fishing gear. The innovation of constructing a trap with an escape hatch is expected to provide an opportunity for undersized blue swimming crabs (carapace width < 10 cm) to escape from the trap through the escape hatch. This research aims to determine the selectivity and effectiveness of using the escape hatch to allow blue swimming crabs to escape in the waters of Teluk Makassar, Lantebung Village. The research was conducted for two months, from November to December 2022. Blue swimming crab samples were collected from foldable traps and dragon traps used by the fishermen, and the crabs were collected while still alive. The experimental method was employed, with four treatments and 21 replications. Based on the estimation of the selection ogive and the selectivity ogive curve, it can be concluded that the selectivity of the 3.5x4 escape hatch is more effective in allowing blue swimming crabs with carapace width below 10 cm to escape compared to other escape hatch sizes, thus avoiding the capture of immature or maturing crabs with mature gonads.