Temporal Pattern in Scads (Decapterus spp.) Catches from Java Sea at Bajomulyo Coastal Fishing Port

The dynamics of the scad fishing season at the Bajomulyo Coastal Fishing Port from the Java Sea fishing ground were investigated using catch and oceanographic data from 2020 to 2024. Scads production data showed significant fluctuations, potentially due to variations in oceanographic conditions, fish stock availability, fishing effort, and external factors. Sea surface temperature (SST) ranged from 28°C to 31°C, while chlorophyll-a concentrations varied between 0.204 and 0.7mg/ m³. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between chlorophyll-a and scads production (r= -0.949, P-value< 0.05), suggesting a time lag between phytoplankton abundance and scads abundance. SST showed a weak correlation with scads production (r= 0.312, P-value> 0.05), with higher catches observed at temperatures between 29°C and 30°C, matching the optimal living temperature for scads. The fishing season index (FSI) indicated that the most intense scads fishing activities occurred from August to December, with FSI values exceeding 100% (> 1). These findings provide insights into the influence of oceanographic factors on the scads fishing season and support the development of sustainable fisheries management strategies along the northern coast of Central Java.