Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science1816-49271996-0751Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/jfas.2011.85.92ShahbudinS. JalalK.C.A. KamaruzzamanY. NoorN. Mohammad- DahT. Chit JohnB. Akbar 1201161Artificial seagrass plays an important role for the distribution of benthic organisms and fishes. Based on this perspective a study was conducted in the Sepanggar Bay located in the Northern part of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from November 2006 to February 2007 to determine the potentiality of artificial seagrass as an alternative habitat for marine fishes. The artificial seagrass area is located approximately 100 m from the coastline at the depth between 6 and 10 m and made up of Dorken Advance Engineer Rubber which was tightened on a square 1 x 3 m metal mat. The sampling process was done by capturing photos and video recording. The picture of the fishes was taken as many as possible to increase the accuracy and precision of fish identification. A total of 497 fish species belong to 17 families were observed in 5 sampling periods throughout the study. Out of 17 families, Pomacentridae was dominant with 25.55% (127 individuals) followed by caesionidae with 22.13% (110 individuals). It was observed that Caesio sp. from a family Caesionidae was dominant genus in the artificial seagrass area, followed by Chromis sp. and Pomacentrus sp. from a family Pomacentridae. Overall Shannon diversity (H) value of 2.5315 indicates artificial sea grass could play a vital role as a nutrient rich habitat for marine fishes.]]>Adams, A.J., J.V. Locascio and B.D. Robbins,20042991733Anderson, E.E.,19899140149Barber, W.E., J.G. Greenwood and P. Crocos,197965135140Beck, M.W., K.L. Heck Jr., K.W. Able, D.L. Childers and D.B. Eggleston et al.,200151633642Bell, J.D., A.S. Steffe and M. Westoby,198590171177Borowitzka, M.A. and R.C. Lethbridge,19891989p: 458-499p: 458-499Costanza, R., R. d'Arge, R. de Groot, S. Farber and M. Grasso et al.,1997387253260De Silva, M.W.R.N. and R.A. Rahman,1999pp: 15-36pp: 15-36De Troch, M., F. Fiers and M. Vincx,2003142345355Dolar, M.L.L.,19911991pp: 367396Duffy, J.E. and M.E. Hay,19917212861298Duffy, J.E.,2006311233250Fletcher, S.W. and W.W. Fletcher, 1995574958Fortes, M.D.,1990pp: 46pp: 46Grenouillet, G.L., D. Pont and K.L. Seip,200225641650Hacker, S.D. and R.S. Steneck,19907122692285Heck, K.L., C. Hays and R.J. Orth,2003253123136Fairhurst, R.A. and K.A. Graham,20032003Heck, K.L. Jr. and R.J. Orth,1980Zostera marina) meadows in the lower chesapeake bay: Decapod crustacea.]]>3289295Hemminga, M.A. and C.M. Duarte,2000Pages: 298Pages: 298Upston, J. and D.J. Booth,2003Zostera capriconi (zosteraceae) and artificial seagrass beds.]]>669197Khalaf, M.A. and M. Kochzius,2002239287299Kuriandewa, T.E., W. Kiswara, M. Hutomo and S. Soemodihardjo,20032003pp: 171-182pp: 171-182Lee, S.Y., C.W. Fong and R.S.S. Wu,2001Zostera japonica) canopy structure on associated fauna: A study using artificial seagrass units and sampling of natural beds.]]>2592350Marasabessy, M.D. and F.D. Hukom,19891989Nakamura, Y., M. Horinouchi, T. Nakai and M. Sano,2003501522Nakamura, Y. and M. Sano,200571543550Parrish, J.D.,198958143160Shannon, C.E. and W. Weaver,19491st Edn.,Pages: 117 Pages: 117 Sogard, S.M. and K.W. Able,199417622630Weinstein, M.P. and K.L. Heck,19775097107