Growth Patterns, Condition Factor, and Population Dynamics of Snapper Lutjanus bengalensis and Lutjanus lutjanus (Pisces: Lutjanidae) Harvested from Aceh Waters Indonesia

Abstract

Aceh province is renowned for its potential marine resources, including fish, with snapper being one of the most economically important coral fish. In Indonesia, this fish serves as the main target for coral fishing, particularly in Aceh, causing a decline in its wild population. This decline requires a sustainable development management plan by acquiring information on population dynamics and natural growth patterns. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze population dynamics related to aspects of fishing rate and population status as well as the natural growth patterns to evaluate ecological condition. The analysis focused on the two predominant snapper species in Aceh waters, namely Lutjanus bengalensis and L. lutjanus, consisting of 376 and 342 samples collected from January to September 2023. Growth pattern analysis showed that the coefficient b value that determined the growth pattern ranged from 0.63 ± 0.0–2.59 ± 2.25 for L. bengalensis with an average of 1.9 ± 0.64, indicating a negative growth pattern, while L. lutjanus had 0.50 ± 0.0–3.27 ± 0.0 with an average of 1.72 ± 1.11, also displaying a negative growth pattern with asymptotic length 287.7 mm and 242.55 mm. Population dynamics analysis showed a higher fishing mortality (F) rate for L. bengalensis and L. lutjanus at 1.98 year^− 1 and 1.41 year ^− 1, respectively which were higher than the natural mortality (M) rate with 0.86 year ^− 1 and 0.59 year^− 1. Current exploitation higher than maximum exploitation (E_curr > E_max ; E > 0.5) of both species L. bengalensis and L. lutjanus respectively with 0.82 year^− 1 > 0.81 year^− 1 and 0.80 year^− 1 > 0.79 year^− 1. In conclusion, the two snapper species had a negative allometric growth patterns, and population dynamic analysis indicating that their population experienced overfishing.