potential of seagrass ecosystems as a support for marine ecotourism on Maitara Island North Tidore District, Tidore Islands City

Seagrass ecotourism is a tourism activity based on the seagrass ecosystem. The ecotourism component of seagrass beds consists of seagrass vegetation and biota associated with seagrass beds. One of the benefits of seagrass ecotourism is as a means of education, for example looking at the ecology of seagrass beds and their associated biota. The aims of this research are: 1) To determine the composition of seagrass species on Maitara Island, 2) To determine the potential of seagrass resources to support ecotourism on Maitara Island based on ecological, social, and supporting aspects. The data collection methods are field observations and interviews. Field observations (ecological aspects) include seagrass type, seagrass cover, organism type, current speed, substrate type, brightness, and water depth. Meanwhile, interviews (socioeconomic and supporting aspects). The composition of seagrass species on Maitara Island consists of 2 families with 10 species, namely the Potamogenaceae family with 6 species (Cymodocea rotundata, C. serrulata, Halodule uninervis, H. pinifolia, Syringidium isiotifolium, Thalassodendron ciliatum) and the Hydocaritaceae family with 4 species (Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Halohila minor and Halophila spinulosa). The seagrass ecosystem of Maitara Island is suitable/feasible to be developed as an ecotourism area from an ecological, socio-economic, and supporting perspective.