Simulated seasonal oceanographic changes and their implication for the small pelagic fisheries in the Java Sea, Indonesia.

Small pelagic fisheries in the Java Sea (JS) contributes to about 26.6% of the total marine fisheries resources, where their spatial-temporal variation is controlled by seasonal oceanographic changes. This study aims to investigate a relationship between seasonal reversal circulation and number of light-fishing vessels (VBD) dispersion that capture small pelagic fishes, using multi-datasets from a regional ocean circulation model, satellite-derived datasets, and pelagic fish landing datasets between 2010 and 2020. The model demonstrates that main axis of eastward (westward) monsoon current that brings warmer and fresher (cooler and saltier) water, confines much closer along the northern Java (southern Kalimantan) during the northwest (southeast) monsoon period. These changes are followed unprecedentedly by southward (northward) shift of VBD and high abundance of euryhaline (stenohaline) fish species. This new evidence implies that reversal monsoon current and surface component of Makassar Throughflow play a significant role on delineating potential small pelagic fishing ground and fish productions. • Seasonal reversal of Java Monsoon Current that brings different water masses was simulated successfully with CROCO model. • The model found meridional shift of the current: close to northern Java (southern Kalimantan) during NWM (SEM) period. • Eastward (westward) current that transport much fresher (saltier) water, is associated with different small pelagic fishes. • Alternate abundance of eury/stenohaline fishes and change of light-fishing vessels dispersion confirmed the model results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]