ABSTRAKStudi ilmiah terkait potensi dan alokasi pemanfaatan sumber daya perikanan demersal di Perairan Cilacap belum pernah dilakukan. Oleh karenanya, penelitian bertujuan menentukan tangkapan lestari maksimum atau Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) untuk mengkaji potensinya. Adapun alokasi pemanfaatannya ditentukan berdasarkan analisis tangkapan yang dibolehkan atau Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Data sekunder dikumpulkan untuk kebutuhan analisis yang berupa data jumlah tangkapan dan jumlah usaha penangkapan yang bersumber dari PPS Cilacap dan Dinas Perikanan Kabupaten Cilacap. Selanjutnya, kajian estimasi potensi dilakukan dengan menggunakan Rumus Surplus Produksi Gordon-Schaefer. Ada tujuh alat tangkap yang digunakan nelayan untuk memanfaatkan sumber daya ikan demersal di Perairan Cilacap. Hasil tangkapannya terdiri atas 64 jenis ikan demersal yang dapat dibagi menjadi dua kelompok, yaitu Osteichthyes (35 jenis) dan Chondrichthyes (29 jenis). Perikanan demersal di Perairan Cilacap masih memiliki potensi untuk dimanfaatkan. Namun, ada banyak jenis ikan demersal yang harus diberi kesempatan untuk pulih agar populasinya dapat lestari. Setidaknya 21 ikan demersal dari masing-masing Osteichthyes dan Chondrichthyes masuk kategori tereksploitasi secara penuh dan berlebihan. Jenis ikan dari Osteichthyes meliputi Black pomfret, Silver pomfret Three lined rockcod, White spotted triggerfish, Indian halibu, Banded grunter, Black jew, Sin croaker, Triple tail, Red snapper, Largescaled terapon, Chacunda gizzard shad, Largehead hairtail, Common ponyfish, Giant trevally, Goatfish, Bluespot mullet, Bombay duck, Yellow pike conger, Flathead, dan Giant catfish. Sementara jenis ikan dari Chondrichthyes meliputi Tiger shark, Sharpnose sevengill shark, Silky shark, Gummy shark, Bigeye thresher, Dog fish, Sandbar shark, Blue shark, Spot tail shark, Spinner shark, Smalltooth thresher shark, Longfin mako, Shortfin mako, Guitarfishes, Wing skate, Giant manta ray, White spotted whipray, Japanese devilray, Round ribbontail ray, Bowmouth guitarfish, dan Leopard whipray. Penangkapan sumber daya ikan demersal selanjutnya di Perairan Cilacap harus dilakukan dengan mempertimbangkan aspek lingkungan dan biodiversitas, agar perikanannya berkelanjutan. Caranya meliputi pemeliharaan dan perbaikan ekosistem perairan serta pembatasan dan pemantauan jumlah tangkapan sumber daya ikan demersal yang dieksploitasi. Peningkatan kualitas kedua aspek dapat mempercepat resiliensi populasi masing-masing spesies.Kata Kunci: Perikanan demersal, status pemanfaatan, tangkapan lestari. ABSTRACTScientific studies on the potential and allocation of demersal fishery resource utilization in Cilacap waters have not yet been conducted. Therefore, this study aims to determine the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) to assess its potential. The allocation of utilization is determined based on the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) analysis. Secondary data were collected for the analysis, consisting of catch and fishing effort data obtained from Cilacap Fishing Port (PPS Cilacap) and the Cilacap District Fisheries Office. Subsequently, potential estimation was carried out using the Gordon–Schaefer Surplus Production Formula. There are seven fishing gears used by local fishers to exploit demersal fish resources in Cilacap Waters. The catches consist of 64 species of demersal fish, which can be divided into two groups, namely Osteichthyes (35 species) and Chondrichthyes (29 species). Demersal fisheries in Cilacap waters still have potential for further utilization. However, many demersal fish species need opportunities to recover in order to sustain their populations. At least 21 demersal fish species from both Osteichthyes and Chondrichthyes are classified as fully or overexploited. Species of Osteichthyes included black pomfret, silver pomfret three lined rockcod, white spotted triggerfish, Indian halibu, banded grunter, black jew, sin croaker, triple tail, red snapper, largescaled terapon, chacunda gizzard shad, largehead hairtail, common ponyfish, giant trevally, goatfish, bluespot mullet, bombay duck, yellow pike conger, flathead, and giant catfish. Meanwhile species of Chondrichthyes included tiger shark, sharpnose sevengill shark, silky shark, gummy shark, bigeye thresher, dog fish, sandbar shark, blue shark, spot tail shark, spinner shark, smalltooth thresher shark, longfin mako, shortfin mako, guitarfishes, wing skate, giant manta ray, white spotted whipray, Japanese devilray, round ribbontail ray, bowmouth guitarfish, and leopard whipray. Future fishing of demersal fish resources in Cilacap waters must be carried out with consideration for environmental and biodiversity aspects to ensure sustainable fisheries. Methods include maintaining and rehabilitating the aquatic ecosystem, as well as limiting and monitoring the catch size of exploited demersal fish resources. Improving the quality of these two aspects can accelerate the population resilience of each species.Keywords: Demersal fisheries, sustainable yield, utilisation status.