432 International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR) ISSN 2307-4531 (Print & Online) http://gssrr.org/index.php?journal=JournalOfBasicAndApplied --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capture Fishery Biology of Skipjack in Western and Southern Waters of North Maluku Province Amirul Karman a* , Sulaeman Martasuganda b , M. Fedi A.Sondita c , Mulyono S Baskoro d a Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Khairun University, Ternate, Indonesia b,c,d Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science,Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16800, Indonesia a Email : karmanamirul@yahoo.co.id b Email : sulaemanmartasuganda@gmail.com c Email fsondita@indo.net.id d Email:Baskoro_mul@yahoocom Abstract Study of capture fishery biology of skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) was carried out in western (Zone A) and southern (Zone B) waters of North Maluku Province in April 2012 to March 2013. The study has collected and observed 1200 skipjack samples. Skipjack length – weight equation for Zone A was: W = 0.016 3,035 and for Zone : = 0,014 3,079 , where both had isometric growth. Length frequency analysis of skipjack using Tanaka method for fish catched in Zone A and B resulted in 3 age groups having similar size modes or mean lengths for both zones, namely 32.9 cm, 43.9 cm and 51.9 cm. Maximum FL length (L ∞ ) of skipjacks catched in zone A reached 75cm at age of 56 months and in zone B reached 76cm at age of 56 months. Range of FL of skipjacks catched in zone A was 26.0 – 72.0 cm while for zone B was 26.0 – 71.0 cm. Levels of gonad maturity of skipjacks catched in zone A and zone B were found to be in two groups, they were TKG IV (ripe) and TKG V (spent). Value of L m of skipjacks in zone A and zone B or North Maluku waters was found to be 43 cm. Keywords: biology, skipjack fishery, North Maluku Province, western waters, southern waters. ------------------------------------------------------------------ * Corresponding author. E-mail address: karmanamirul@yahoo.co.id