A Study of the Seawater Quality Around Halmahera Islands, North Maluku, Indonesia
Edward Edward *
Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency, Serpong, Indonesia.
Abd Wahab Radjab
Research Center for Biota Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
Yanrizal Yanrizal
Faculty of Technical Geology , Bandung Technology Institute, Bandung, Indonesia.
Safar Dody
Research Center for Biota Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
Sam Wouthuyzen
Research Center for Biota Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
Agus Kusnadi
Research Center for Biota Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
Teddy Triandiza
Research Center for Biota Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
Marsya J Rugebregt
Research Center for Deep Sea, National Research and Innovation Agency, Ancol, Indonesia.
Intan Rubiyanti
Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural Institute, Bogor, Indonesia.
RDA Opier
Research Center for Deep Sea, National Research and Innovation Agency, Ancol, Indonesia.
Agus Dendi Rochendi
Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency, Serpong, Indonesia.
Sulistiono
Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural Institute, Bogor, Indonesia.
Frensly D Hukom
Research Center for Biota Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
Teguh Peristiwady
Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
Yunia Witasari
Reserach Center for Limnology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Halmahera is one of the largest islands in North Maluku, Indonesia. The island is rich in valuable minerals like gold and nickel, and it also has abundant marine resources. In September 2005 (transition monsoon), a research survey was carried out in the waters around Halmahera, because September is a transitional season, where in this month there is a change of season from the east season to the west season, which affects water conditions. This study aims to monitor seawater quality in relation to fisheries and tourism interests. The study looked at both physical and chemical seawater quality parameters. The physical parameters measured included temperature, salinity, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), and light transmission, while the chemical parameters were nutrients (phosphate, nitrate, silicate), dissolved oxygen (DO), acidity (pH), and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni). The results showed that the seawater quality was generally suitable for fisheries and tourism activities and still met the standards set for Indonesia’s seawater quality.
Keywords: Halmahera, seawater, water quality, physicochemical parameters, nutrients, heavy metals