Ecological sustainability status of the Beloso fish (Glossogobius sp.) in the Tempe Lake, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Beloso fish (Glossogobius sp.), locally known as "bungo", is one of the freshwater fish of Tempe Lake. Being less bony, tasty, with a thick flesh, it is a sought-after commodity on the local market. Although Beloso fish is ecologically and economically important, its aquaculture has not yet been developed. The high fishing pressure put on the wild population of Glossogobius sp.in order to meet high market demand, is currently very concerning. In addition, fish introduced into the Tempe Lake for aquaculture purposes, such as the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), are threats to the existence of Beloso fish and other native species, due to either predation or competition. This study aimed to analyze the sustainability and, in particular, the ecological status of the Glossogobius sp. located in Tempe Lake. The study was conducted in three districts, namely Wajo, Soppeng and Sidrap, South Sulawesi. Five sites were used during the study period: the middle of Tempe Lake, the water entry of the Bila River, the water entry of the Walanae River, the water entry of the Batu-Batu River and the area of water discharge into the Cenranae River. Sampling, measuring and weighing of fish samples were carried out for data collection. The Rapid Appraisal Analysis (Rapfish) was applied for a sustainability analysis. The measured indicators of ecological sustainability were: the water quality, frequency distribution, age group, growth, mortality, exploitation rate. The result of the Rapfish analysis showed that the value of the sustainability index for the ecology dimension was at 32.68, which means that the Beloso fish’s ecological sustainability status can be classified as “less sustainable”.
Key Words: bungo, ecological dimension, sustainability, rapid appraisal analysis.