Environmental Parameters and Razor Clam Fisheries in Bako, Kuching, Sarawak

• Main Author: Ollince, Tateh
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2007
• Subjects: SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/27761/2/Ollince%20Tateh.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/27761/

This study was carried out to determine the water quality parameters at razor clam producing area of Bako and to obtain information about the fisheries of razor clams in Bako. Two field samplings were undertaken; the first sampling was on 6`h December 2006 and the second sampling was on 6th February 2007. Five stations were selected for each sampling site for water quality analysis. The parameters that were taken in-situ were temperature (ranged 26.9 ± 0.05 °C to 28.2 ± 0.08 °C), pH (ranged 7.25 ± 0 to 7.35 ± 0.08), conductivity (24.36 t 0.013 itS/cm), dissolved oxygen (ranged 6.13 ± 0.18 ppm to 8.56 ± 2.39 ppm), turbidity (ranged 67.89 f 1.57 to 301.73 ± 8.03 FTU), salinity (ranged 9.2 ± 1.79 to 20.0 ± 0 PSU), transparency (ranged 6.0 ± 0.71 to 23.7 ± 2.15 cm), TDS (12.1 ± 0.02 mg/1), and NaCI (49.32 ± 0.08 mg/1) while for ex-situ were chlorophyll a (ranged 2.04 f 0.48 to 4.04 ± 1.44 µg/1), TSS (ranged 10.65 ± 2.74 to 30.36 ± 6.39 mg/1), BOD5 (ranged 2.68 t 0.05 to 5.67 t 0.20 ppm), and nutrients (orthophosphate, ranged 0.033 ± 0.013 to 0.134 f 0.115 mg/I; ammonia, ranged 0.079 ± 0.037 to 1.673 ± 0.327 mg/l; silicate, ranged 1.311 ± 0.325 to 1.971 ± 0.320mg/I; nitrate, ranged 0.033 ± 0.006 to 0.083 ± 0.011 mg/l; and nitrite, ranged 0.015 ± 0.002 to 0.038 ± 0.107 mg/I). There were several factors that influence the difference in the values of parameters between the two months. These factors include the weather condition, location of sampling sites, tidal regime and anthropogenic activities from the nearby villages. Fisheries survey shows that the common technique that was practiced by the harvesters in Bako is using `lidi' stick and lime. Species that are found in Bako are Solen regularis, Solen sarawakensis, and Solen digitalis. This study found that the water quality in Bako is still sustainable for the growth of razor clams.