To Prevent Massive Mortality of Fish, A Group of Students of IPB Created “Poker”
Dissolved oxygen – oxygen molecules dissolved in water – is a major indicator of water quality. Like the air we breathe, the survival of aquatic life depends on a sufficient level of oxygen dissolved in water. High turbidity levels in the water will affect the process of photosynthesis of phytoplankton, and caused lesser amounts of dissolved oxygen in it. As in the process of photosynthesis, phytoplankton release oxygen into the water. Thus, the content of dissolved oxygen and turbidity of turbulent waters and the ecosystem shifts make it difficult for fish to adapt quickly. Dissolved oxygen is necessary to many forms of life including fish, invertebrates, bacteria and plants. Low dissolved oxygen content due to water quality degradation occurred Jakarta Bay, had caused fish mass mortality. Based on such current issues, a group of students of the Department of Marine Science and Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences of Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK IPB), chaired by Slamet Riyanto, and members of the team were Imam Syafi'i, Agung Tri Nugroho, and Muhammad Sanubari discussed such massive marine fish deaths due to lack of oxygen, release of toxic gas into the water, excessive nutrient and high ammonia. The group were established for Program Kreativitas Mahasiswa bidang Penelitian (PKM-P Student Creativity Program for Research),
The discussion had recommended them to create the monitoring tool of dissolved oxygen content and turbidity in real time through internet browser website, they call it “Poker”. This tool is to prevent mass mortality of the fish is going to happen again.
The dimension of “Poker” is 38 centimeters high and its maximum diameter is 15 centimeters. The Design of “Poker” Telemetry Systems is equipped by field stations, satellites, and ground stations. Field stations are places where Poker sensors are located in the coastal areas or among marine fish cultivation areas. Satellite serves to deliver data from field stations to land stations. Ground stations comprise radio receivers, computer systems, and fisheries and marine inspectors. The dissolved oxygen and turbidity data obtained will be transmitted to the satellite and forwarded to the ground station. The data will be displayed using the website.
This tool is a prototype of a field station of dissolved oxygen monitor and turbidity in coastal areas adjacent to coastal fish farming areas. Poker is expected to inform the changes of dissolved oxygen and turbidity in real time. So if the value of dissolved oxygen or turbidity exceeds or below the threshold of the fish can survive, the ground supervisors can take preventive action or give instructions to the farmers to harvest the fish to avoid loss.
"In the near future proposal to obtain patent for “Poker” will be processed. In addition, field stations throughout Indonesia will also be established, to monitor marine fish farming areas easily through website. They expected the creation of such tool will increase the production marine fisheries cultivation, and reduce mass mortality of fish, "said Slamet. (Wied)
