Fisheries Survey in Mentawai Waters Bengkulu Province

The study was to investigate whether offshore oil and gas exploration would be responded by fish community. Trawling was made at 2 locations inside and 1 location outside the block. There were 49 taxa, consisting of 45 fishes and 4 non-fishes. 30 taxa (67%) belong to pelagic group indicating an off-shore fish community (depth >200 m). The shallower the depth will result in the higher the species number.Unstable condition inside the block was unrelated with oil and gas exploration.High species number outside the block was influenced by depth. Satellite images depicting fishing ground will be very helpful for the fishermen for fishing activities.