| Summary: | Fish can be bioindicator to their surrounding environment. The abundance and
diversity of fish can represent the healthy condition of that area. Human
intervention has significant effect on water quality. Water quality can affect the fish
abundance and diversity as well. In this study, two locations of Sepanggar Island
are selected, which is residential (R) area and non residential (NR) area. The
Significant of study was to determine the status of water quality, fish abundance
and diversity at Sepanggar Island. Water quality was measured using
multiparameter probe (in-situ parameters) and collected water sample for lab
analysis. UVC method was used to measure data on fish abundance using Shannon
Weiner Diversity Index to calculate fish diversity. In-situ water quality parameters
shows there is no significant different (p>0.05) between the two locations. All In-situ
parameters were within the range of Interim National Water Quality Standard
(INWQS) of Malaysia. Ammonia concentration at residential and non residential
areas was safe for common, commercial fish and human recreation activities.
However, chlorophyll a shows big different between residential and non residential
area which is 3.78 ± 2.41 µg/L and 8.13 ± 3.27 µg/L respectively. Higher diversity
of fish was found at non residential area (57 species and 727 individuals) rather
than residential area (42 species and 409 individuals). Family Pomacentridae was
dominant at Rand NR area which is 16 species and 25 species respectively. The
most abundance species found at R area was Aeoliscus strigatus (91 individuals)
and at NR area was Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus (48 individuals). However, fish
abundance and water quality at Sepanggar Island has no significant relationship
except chlorophyll a.
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