The primary aim of this project is to establish the first species-specific conservation aquaculture protocol for Betta burdigala. This will be achieved through three integrated components. First, field-based ecological assessments will document habitat characteristics, including physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity), substrate composition, and microhabitat structure across key locations in South and Central Bangka region. These data will provide updated baselines on habitat integrity and environmental requirements.

Second, the project will conduct detailed reproductive and genetic analyses to inform broodstock management and minimize inbreeding risk. Gonadal maturation, fecundity, gamete quality, and spawning behavior will be examined to identify environmental cues regulating reproductive success. Complementary genetic characterization will assess population structure and intra-population diversity, forming the basis for conservation-oriented breeding design.

Third, controlled ex situ breeding trials will be implemented under simulated blackwater conditions to develop domestication and larval rearing protocols aligned with conservation aquaculture principles. The objective is to establish genetically viable assurance colonies that reduce extraction pressure on wild populations and provide a biological safeguard for potential future reinforcement or reintroduction efforts.

Beyond scientific outputs, the project will engage local communities and government stakeholders through participatory monitoring, workshops, and dissemination of practical conservation guidelines. By integrating research, capacity building, and applied aquaculture techniques, this initiative will produce a replicable conservation model for endemic blackwater fishes in Indonesia and contribute to the long-term resilience of Bangka’s threatened peat swamp ecosystems.