Reproductive biology study of yellow puffer fish, Xenopterus naritus of Sarawak waters

• Main Author: Syamimi Ainaa, Binti Tukimin
• Format: E-LPTA
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2017
• Subjects: SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/27854/1/Reproductive%20biology%20study%20of%20yellow%20water%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/27854/

In Malaysia, yellow puffer fish, Xenopterus naritus is abundant only in Sarawak and it is locally known as ‘ikan buntal kuning’. The reproductive biology study of X. naritus is very limited, therefore this study were conducted. The samples of X. naritus were taken at seven different locations at selected areas in Sarawak which are Kampung Buntal, Sadong Jaya, Paloh, Sebangan, Pusa, Muara Tebas and Spaoh. The samples were caught in between March 2016 and January 2017 with the help of the fishermen. From the samples, the body size and the sexes of each sample were measured and determined, respectively. The sex ratio of the sample caught was calculated and the gonads of both sexes were examined for GSI, HSI, fecundity and gonads maturity stages. The histological methods were applied to analyse the gonadal development of X. naritus. The overall sex ratio in coastal areas was 0.5:1 while in the river of Spaoh was 4:1. In this study, maturation stage was between April and May while spawning season for the X. naritus was from JuneAugust. Therefore, the values of the GSI were higher in between April and August. The mean HSI of female samples were higher than male samples. Sadong Jaya has the highest fecundity values with 10,428±1,391.5 eggs with the ranges between 8,953-10,391 eggs. The information that gained from this study can be used in sustainable management of X. naritus fishery as it is one of the commercial species in Sarawak.