SEMARANG - A Team of Student Creativity Program (PKM) of Diponegoro University (UNDIP) Semarang succeeded in creating a sea turtle repellent and rabbitfish fish (siganussp) that is useful to prevent the failed harvest of seaweed cultivation in Karimunjawa Jepara, Central Java. Turtles and rabbitfish fish were identified as one of the causes of the failed seaweed harvest of fishermen in the small archipelago.
The team consisted of Muhammad Syahril Munthe, Izzatun Nuha, Nuraini Elvi Fajrin, and Berlian Ade Wijaya, assisted by supervisor Prof. Dr. Aristi Dian Purnama Fitri,S.pi., M.Si. The process of research and manufacture of such tools is supported by funding the Student Creativity Program (PKM) 5 Fields in 2020 from the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture.
As is known, in Karimunjawa Islands most of its citizens rely on the sea as their source of life. In addition to looking for fish, residents make seaweed cultivation as a source of income, as well as a sustainable business. In extreme climatic conditions, seaweed management can be a productive activity for residents. Therefore, optimization of harvest becomes important.
From the recognition of fishermen who are engaged in seaweed cultivation, they often experience crop failure. The identification said that one of the causes of seaweed crop failure was due to the attack of turtles and rabbitfish. Both species in the context of seaweed cultivation are considered a scourge.
According to existing reports, turtle and rabbitfish attacks could cause seaweed production to fall by up to 50%. In conditions where the selling price of seaweed is volatile, a 50% decrease in production is very disruptive to the income of fishermen in Karimunjawa.
During this time, they get obstacles in seaweed cultivation because their plants are often attacked by turtles and rabbitfish. Therefore, the idea arises to optimize the crop using simple technology.
Undip PKM team who conducted the study in Karimunjawa then designed a tool that can repel turtles and rabbitfish from the seaweed cultivation area. The draft received support from the Ministry of Education through the Director-General of Higher Education.
The form of PKM Undip team's tool is a box equipped with Green LED lights, speakers, body, and selvolta circuit. This device can emit high frequencies that are then caught by rabbitfish through its scales. Because of this frequency, rabbitfish will move away to a position of 3 meters from the seaweed cultivation area.
Meanwhile, turtles can also be driven away so as not to approach the seaweed cultivation area with the tool. The mechanism, the green radiance of the LED beam is not liked by turtles, so the animal will avoid it. The device is designed automatically and repeatedly, i.e. live 15 seconds, die five seconds to be more energy efficient.
The process of making tools and trials has been carried out in the period of August 10 to September 30, 2020. The innovation of PKM Undip is expected to increase seaweed cultivation in Karimunjawa in an environmentally friendly way because it does not use chemicals that can cause marine pollution.
Source: www.undip.ac.id
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