Shelf Oceanography and Small Pelagic Fishes in the Java Sea

The optimization of small pelagic fisheries in the Java Sea could be enhanced by providing oceanographic information for analysis and determining potential fishing grounds. This study aims to investigate shelf oceanographic factors influencing small pelagic fisheries using multidatasets of sea surface temperature and surface salinity CROCO ocean model output (2010 – 2020), distribution of light-fishing vessel position of VIIRS satellite, and small pelagic fish catches landing data (round scads Decapterus spp. and the spotted sardinella Amblygaster sirm) at Pekalongan Fishing Port, Central Java. The results showed that the peak of fishing season for the spotted sardinella occurs during northwest monsoon, in which the eastward monsoon current and Sunda shelf throughflow brings fresher (±32.4 psu) and warmer (±28.5 oC) water into the Java Sea. In contrast, the peak of fishing season for round scads. is associated with saltier (>33.0 psu) and cooler (<28.5 °C) water supplied by the westward monsoon current and Makassar ITF during the southeast monsoon. Alternating intensification of monsoonal current along the northern Java and the southern Kalimantan coast during different monsoon periods is associated with a higher abundance of neritic and oceanic small pelagic fishes, respectively.