Study of the development of milkfish (Chanos-chanos sp.) cultivation based on plankton aspects

Background: Mandalle Beach, Pangkep Regency, is located in a coastal area with areas consisting of beaches, river estuaries, mangrove forests, rice fields, ponds, and residential areas. This area has potential for fish cultivation, especially milkfish cultivation. To support data and information about the prospects for cultivating milkfish in this region, a study was carried out on biological aspects, especially plankton. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out at five research locations, namely: location 1 is on the coast, which borders the coast of Barru Regency; location 2 is the location around the Pangkep State Agricultural Polytechnic Campus Pier; location 3 is on the beach, where mangrove vegetation grows around it; location 4, namely at the mouth of the river, which borders Mandalle Village and Tamarupa Village; and location 5, namely in the part adjacent to the rice fields and ponds of Mandalle Village. The plankton parameters tested were plankton abundance, variety, and dominance. The data obtained was then processed and analyzed using descriptive analysis. The plankton parameters tested were abundance, uniformity, diversity, and plankton dominance. The data obtained was then processed and analyzed using descriptive analysis. Results: The results showed that plankton abundance (cells/ml) was in the range of 250–300 cells/ml. Each research location has different types of plankton, which have the highest abundance. The plankton uniformity index value is in the range of 0.18108–0.22653, with the highest uniformity value occurring at location 2 and the lowest at location 3. The types of plankton that dominate in each research location are Chaetoceros sp., Gyrodinium sp., Thallasionema sp., Gymnodinium, and Cosconodiscus, but the most dominant type of plankton in all research locations is Chaetoceros sp., namely 0.461538462. Conclusions: Based on the study of the type, abundance, diversity, uniformity, and dominance of plankton, it can be stated that, based on the plankton aspect, the waters of Mandalle Beach, Pangkep Regency, are suitable and meet the requirements for cultivating milkfish; however, due to the large number of fishing activities and the proximity of residential areas and rice fields, the cultivation technique What is recommended is traditional or semi-intensive milkfish cultivation.