Hard Coral Cover and Coral Fish Density in Pantai Pall Waters,Tanjung Pulisan, East Likupang, North Minahasa Regency

Tanjung Pulisan area in Likupang has been designated as part of the Likupang Special Economic Zone (SEZ), as one of five super-priority tourist destinations. To support this program, it is urgent to have an assessment based on coral reef and fish ecology that can be destined as a tourism target. Thus, the purpose of this study is to provide information on the percentage of hard coral cover, the percentage of hard coral genera, as well as the density of reef fish in the waters of Tanjung Pulisan. The author uses the Line Intercept Transect and Underwater Visual Census methods at three stations which are combined synergistically to obtain data on corals and target reef fish effectively. Data were analyzed using the Microsoft Excel program. The results of the analysis showed that the percentage of live coral cover in Tanjung Pulisan waters was categorized as moderate with an average percentage of 47.04%, consisting of 30.28% hard coral and 16.76% soft coral. In these waters, 32 genera of hard corals were found, and Porites as the most dominant genus, with an average percentage of 23.01 %. In addition, the total average density of target reef fish in this location was 0.185 ind/m2, with the most dominant family being Acanthuridae with an average density value of 0.096 ind/m2.Keywords: Hard coral; Likupang; Reef fish; Tanjung PulisanAbstrakKawasan Tanjung Pulisan, Likupang telah ditetapkan menjadi bagian dari Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus (KEK) Likupang, satu dari lima destinasi wisata super prioritas. Guna menunjang program ini, perlu dilakukan analisis berbasis ekologi karang dan ikan karang yang bisa dijadikan sebagai target wisata. Berdasarkan ini maka dilakukan riset tutupan karang keras, persentase genera karang keras, juga kepadatan ikan karang di lokasi tersebut. Metode yang digunakan adalah Line Intercept Transect dan Sensus Visual Bawah Air pada tiga stasiun yang dipadukan secara sinergis untuk memperoleh data karang dan ikan karang target secara efektif. Data dianalisis menggunakan program Microsoft Excel. Hasil analisis menunjukan bahwa persentase tutupan karang hidup di perairan Tanjung Pulisan terkategorikan sedang dengan persentase rata-rata sebesar 47,04 %, yang terdiri dari 30,28 % karang keras dan 16,76 % karang lunak. Di perairan ini ditemukan 32 genera karang keras, dengan genus yang paling dominan yaitu Porites dengan persentase rata-rata sebesar 23,01 %. Selain itu, total kepadatan rata-rata ikan karang target di lokasi ini adalah 0,185 ind/m2, dengan Famili yang paling dominan adalah Acanthuridae dengan nilai kepadatan rata-rata sebesar 0,096 ind/m2.Kata kunci:   Ikan karang; Karang keras; Likupang; Tanjung Pulisa