ESTIMATION OF SMALL PELAGIC FISHING GROUNDS SELAR CRUMENOPHTHALMUS IN THE MAKASSAR STRAIT, INDONESIA

The waters of the Makassar Strait are known as part of the Indonesian throughflow (Arlindo), which influences the dynamics of the waters in the distribution patterns of temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a, which are oriented towards the occurrence of upwelling phenomena creating ideal conditions for the development of phytoplankton which are the basis of the marine food chain. This study aims to determine the determination of the potential for small pelagic fishing grounds. The study area taken is the Makassar Strait by mapping the conditions of parameters and areas that have the potential for fishing in August 2024 to July 2025 using interpolation and probability models. This study shows that the lowest sea surface temperature (SST) parameters occur in the east season and the highest occur in the west season with an average value of 30.15°C, this is influenced by the El Nino event in that season which reduces rainfall. Chlorophyll-a concentrations increase the highest in the west and east seasons with values of 0.36 mg/m³ and 0.32 mg/m³ and in the transition season II decreases. Similarly, the lowest salinity concentrations occurred during the west monsoon, with an average value of 32.94 ppt, and the highest during the east monsoon. Potential fishing grounds show upwelling occurring across a very broad area of potential fishing potential. Chlorophyll-a and salinity significantly affected catches, while sea surface temperature had no significant effect.