Sains Malaysiana 52(4)(2023): 1047-1058 http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5204-02 The Diversity and Distribution of Fish at the Port and Urbanized Areas of Pulau Pinang Straits, Malaysia (Kepelbagaian dan Taburan Ikan di Kawasan Pelabuhan dan Perbandaran Selat Pulau Pinang, Malaysia) MUZZALIFAH ABD HAMID 1 , AMIR SHAH RUDDIN MD SAH 2 , IZWANDY IDRIS 1* , SITI AZIZAH MOHD NOR 2,3 , MAZLAN ABDUL GHAFFAR 4 , CASEY NGO SAIK PENG 5 & SHAHRIL MOD HUSIN 6 1 South China Sea Repository and Reference Centre, Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia 2 School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia 3 Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia 4 Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia 5 R-Sync Technical Resources Sdn. Bhd., Butterworth, Pulau Pinang 6 TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Received: 13 May 2022/Accepted: 20 March 2023 ABSTRACT Marine fsh in Malaysian waters are impacted by various stressors, including resource exploitation, urbanization and industrialization. Therefore, this study examines the fsh diversity and distribution at fve sampling stations with diferent natural processes and anthropogenic activities in the coastal waters of Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. A total of 669 fsh specimens belonging to 47 species from 23 families were collected using drift nets in two sampling periods from October to November 2017 and October to November 2019, respectively. The fsh abundance is determined based on the catch per unit efort, CPUE (ind/hour). Among the dominant families, Leiognathidae and Ariidae accounted for 21.22% and 14.44% of the total catch, respectively. Three fsh species, namely, Eubleekeria splendens, Anodontostoma chacunda, and Pennahia anea, dominated the catches. The CPUE near the ongoing reclamation projects and landfll was lower than that of the port and industrial areas with mangrove estuaries. The dendrogram clearly diferentiated the fsh species composition between the reclamation sites and natural shorelines. Given no previous research on the fsh distribution along the Pulau Pinang strait featuring diferent habitat types, this study therefore serves as a contemporary fsh assemblage for future research and surveys. Keywords: Fish diversity; mangrove; Pulau Pinang coast; reclamation; urbanization ABSTRAK Ikan marin di perairan Malaysia diancam oleh pelbagai tekanan, termasuk eksploitasi sumber, pembandaran dan perindustrian. Oleh itu, kajian ini meneliti kepelbagaian dan taburan ikan di lima stesen persampelan dengan proses semula jadi dan aktiviti antropogenik yang berbeza di perairan pantai Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Sebanyak 669 spesimen ikan tergolong daripada 47 spesies daripada 23 famili telah dikumpul menggunakan pukat hanyut dalam dua tempoh persampelan dari Oktober hingga November 2017 dan Oktober hingga November 2019. Kelimpahan ikan ditentukan berdasarkan tangkapan per unit usaha (TPUU; individu/jam). Antara famili yang dominan ialah Leiognathidae dan Ariidae masing-masing menyumbang kepada 21.22% dan 14.44% daripada jumlah keseluruhan tangkapan. Tiga spesies ikan iaitu, Eubleekeria splendens, Anodontostoma chacunda dan Pennahia anea mendominasi tangkapan ini. TPUU berhampiran projek penambakan yang sedang dijalankan dan tapak pelupusan adalah rendah berbanding kawasan pelabuhan dan perindustrian dengan muara bakau. Dendogram membezakan dengan jelasnya komposisi spesies ikan antara tapak penambakan dan garisan pantai semula jadi. Memandangkan tiada kajian terdahulu mengenai taburan ikan di sepanjang selat Pulau Pinang yang menampilkan jenis habitat yang berbeza, oleh itu kajian ini berfungsi sebagai himpunan ikan kontemporari untuk penyelidikan dan tinjauan pada masa depan. Kata kunci: Bakau; kepelbagaian ikan; pembandaran; penambakan; pantai Pulau Pinang