This study presents an analysis of bycatch data concerning Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) along the Korean coast from 2016 to 2021. A total of 503 bycatches were examined, encompassing data on year, month, body length, sex, latitude (N), longitude (E), and fishing gear. Bycatch was the most frequent in waters with a longitude of less than 130°E, particularly in the southern coastal region at a latitude of 35.5°N, with a higher likelihood of bycatch in lower latitudes. Since 2017, a decreasing trend in bycatches has been observed. The sex distribution of bycaught dolphins showed a predominance of males (40%), followed by females (31%), with an unclassified category at 29%, though no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05). Seasonal analysis indicated that bycatch predominantly occurred during the winter months, with significant monthly variations (p < 0.01). Pacific white-sided dolphins were primarily ensnared in gill nets and, to a lesser extent, in stationary nets. Statistical analysis by gear type revealed a significant preference for gill nets (p < 0.001). Considering body length composition in relation to latitude, it is suggested that Pacific white-sided dolphins may utilize the southern waters of the East Sea as a potential nursery ground, though this was not confirmed at a significant level, emphasizing the need for further in-depth monitoring and ecological investigations. Given that there are approximately 27 different types of gill nets associated with the majority of bycatches, more detailed research is warranted to divide these gear types into finer subcategories for estimating bycatch relationships, ultimately leading to the development of effective conservation and management strategies.

This study aimed to identify the actual catch situation of offshore dredge gear which is newly regulated in the legislation. It’s also conducted to identify the species composition, weight of the catch including the target species and incidental catches, and to provide the basic information necessary for the resource management of aquatic organisms caught by offshore dredge. During the investigation period (from September 2022 to May 2023), a total of 61 species appeared in the test operation sea of Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do and Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, with 31 species of fishes, 11 species of malacostraca, six species of gastropoda, five species of bivalvia, three species of cephalopoda, three species of asteroidea, one species each of asteroidea and holothuroidea appeared. According to the results of the test operation conducted in September and November 2022, the non-catch season of Atrina (Servatrina) pectinata, 1,203 shellfishes were caught out of 2,979 caught in number, showing a bycatch rate of 59.6%, and by weight, 157.9 kg of shellfish was caught out of the total catch of 448.4 kg, showing a bycatch rate of 64.8%. On the other hand, in February and May 2023, the catch season for Atrina (Servatrina) pectinata, 3,692 fishsells were caught out of the 4,232 catches in total, showing a bycatch rate of 12.8%, and by weight, 1,185.0 kg of shellfish was caught out of the total catch of 1,293.2 kg, showing an 8.3% bycatch rate.

The United States enforces the seafood import regulations so-called the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and by 2023, all exports of aquatic products and processed fish products by fisheries which have not obtained an “Comparability Finding” from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be completely banned. Therefore, to respond to the US MMPA, it is critical to identify technologies and methods used in worldwide for reducing bycatch of marine mammals. In particular, marine mammals are frequently caught in five fisheries (trawl, gill net, trap, stow net and set net) in Korea, which is facing a great challenge. This study presented bycatch reduction methods by five fisheries, classified the methods by country, and suggested appropriate reduction methods which can be applied in Korea.

This study investigated the species composition and bycatch status of fishes by fyke net between June and November 2020 in Asanho lake and Chungjuho lake. During the survey period, the catches in Asanho lake were identified as 2,931 individuals of 16 species from a total of six families and in Chungjuho lake were identified as 1,645 individuals of 14 species from a total of eight families. The dominant species in Asanho lake was Erythroculter erythropterus which accounted for 59.6% of the the total number of individuals and 40.5% of the total biomass caught. The dominant species in Chungjuho lake was Lepomis macrochirus which accounted for 48.2% of the the total number of individuals and Erythroculter erythropterus which accounted for 60.2% of the total biomass caught. The bycatch rates of non-commercial species in Asanho lake and Chungjuho lake were 77.0% and 82.6%, respectively. As a result of analyzing the frequency distribution of the total length of Carassius auratus and Siniperca scherzeri, which were the dominant species among commercial species, the bycatch rate of small individuals was 87.1%, and 42.7%, respectively.

In order to understand characteristics on bycatch of Korean tuna purse seine fishery, especially operations associated with Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) in the Indian Ocean, we conducted analyses related to bycatch by school association type (unassociated school, FAD associated school and log associated school) using the data collected by scientific observers from 2016 to 2018. The FAD used by Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Indian Ocean was a drifting FAD, which belongs to non-entangling FADs according to the category proposed by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). The target species of Korean tuna purse seine fishery are skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tunas, accounting for 99% of the total catch. The ratio of bycatch was 0.97% in total catch and the discard accounted for less than 1%, indicating that most catch was retained on board. In terms of bycatch ratio by school association type, it accounted for 0.12% for unassociated school, 1.09% for FAD associated school and 1.25% for log associated school. As for the catch proportion of shark species by school association type, it accounted for 0.01% for unassociated school, 0.11% for FAD associated school and 0.10% for log associated school, which showed that unassociated school type was the lowest to affect bycatch of non-target and shark species. Given the proportion of bycatch compositions, however, it is considered that FAD associated school of Korean tuna purse seine fishery has less caught bycatch species of non-target and shark, compared to other fleets operating in the Indian Ocean.

A study for species composition and abundance of the fish assemblages in the coastal Sacheon Bay, Korea were conducted using monthly collection by a shrimp beam trawl from March 2015 to February 2016. The number of individuals, biomass and species diversity indices fluctuated with the station and month. Of all 73 species collected, the dominant species in terms of numbers were Liparis tanakae, Zoarces gillii, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Ricuzenius pinetorum and Pleuronichys cornutus. The peak number of fishes occurred in March and April, whereas the biomass of fishes was highest in April. The numbers and biomass of fishes were lower in February corresponding with the low temperature, and diversity indices were highest in June. Due to those seasonal difference in abundance of the dominant species, fish community were divided into three main groups. In addition, seasonal difference by station of fish community were devided into four main groups. Juvenile fishes of coastal Sacheon were presented during the study period. It presented that the study area served as an important role in spawning and nursery ground for fisheries resource.

We examined monthly changes in the rate of fishes by-caught by gape net with wings and their immature ratio in thecoast of Yeosu and Jindo Island, Korea. A minus correlation between bycatch rate, the ratio of fishes except for anchovy, Engraulis japonicus, to all fishes collected by gape net with wings, and individuals of the collected anchovy was significantly observed, implying that as the anchovy catch decreased and the bycatch rate increased. Immature ratios by the dominant bycatch species during the study is the following; Leiognathus nuchalis was 72.7~99.0%, Sphyraena pinguis was 84.0%, Sardinella zunasi was 90.0%, others (Leptocephalus, Trichiurus lepturus, Ammodytes personatus, Sphyraena pinguis, Trachurus japonicas, Mugil cephalus and Erisphex pottii) were 100.0%. In order to decrease the high bycatch rates of immature fishes in spring and autumn, our study suggested increasing of codend mesh size and developing suitable bycatch reduction devices in a gape net with wings.

This study was conducted to analyze fishing capacity and bycatch by mesh size and entrance size of spring net pot conductedby water tank and field experiment. The water tank experiments were conducted by using traps with mesh size of 22 mm and entrance size of 120 mm and 140 mm, respectively in the water tank of NIFS. The field experiment was conducted using 5 kinds of spring net pot with mesh sizes of 20 mm, 22 mm, 35 mm and entrance size of 120 mm, 130 mm, 140 mm, 360 mm by coastal trap fishery vessel operating around the area of Geoje island. In the result of water tank experiments, the catch of conger eel was 1.5 times higher when using trap with entrance size of 140 mm than that of 120 mm. In the field experiment, when using same mesh size, the larger the entrance size, the higher amount of conger eel catch, bycatch and number of bycatch species. When using the same entrance size, the larger the mesh size, the lower amount of conger eel catch and number of bycatch species, whereas the amount of bycatch showed increasing trend.

Species composition and bycatch rate of the catches by dredge with bycatch reduction device to reduce bycatch were estimated around Yeongil Bay, Korea at June, 2015. Total catches were collected 31 species as Chordata 10 species, mollusca 8 species, arthropoda 6 species, echinodermata 5 species, sipunculida 1 species, annelida 1 species during the experiment at the Yeongil Bay. The dominant species were Scapharca broughtonii, Callithaca adamsi, and Atrina pectinata and they reached 79.9% of the total catch. The catch rate of Scapharca broughtonii and Callithaca adamsi was 69.6% and 10.4% respectively. The rate of bycatch was 20.1%, consisted with Echinodemata 13.0%, Chordata 3.6%. The catch of ordinary dredge was 27 species 1,307 number 85,052g and that of dredge with escapement device was 21 species 1,690 number 91,648g. In conclusion, the dredge gear with bycatch reduction device has higher catch rate of target species and lower bycatch rate to non–target species than ordinary one.

The 1/5 scale–down model of the Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) from an Argentinean demersal trawl was tested in a circulating water channel. The BRD is designed to help small Hake (merluza, merluccius hubbsi) to escape from a trawl. It is settled in front of a trawl codend, and is equipped with selection grids that help small fish to escape from the gear and guiding panels that help fish to meet with the grids. Bars of the grids are wires covered by the PVC and other parts of the BRD are made of net. When the velocity was less than 0.65 m/sec (2.81 Kont when translated to real towing speed) which is slow speed compared with real towing speed, position between an upper guiding panel and an upper selection grid were good to help small fish to escape. When the velocity was more than 0.8 m/sec (3.41 Knot when translated to real towing speed) which is similar to and faster than real towing speed, it was considered that small fish may have difficulties in escaping because the gap was not enough between an upper guiding panel and an upper selection grid. The lower selection grid was sat on the bottom of the tank without an angle due to the weight that it carries. Improvements were proposed to position the panels and the grids better.

Experiment was set up to analyze bycatch and discards situation including snow crap Chionoecetes opilio of whelk trap. Four types of trap were used: drum type trap with PE net; drum type trap with PBS net; cylinder type trap with PE net; and cylinder type net with PBS net. Three funnels were attached in drum type trap and two funnels were used in cylinder type trap. A fleet of traps was consisted with one hundred traps. 25 traps of each type were set on a line in repeated sequence. Field experiments were conducted with 6 fishing operations in the Uljin waters, East Sea in July 2014. Catch of target whelks were 173,261 g and catch rate was 48.7% of total catch, while bycatch were 182,571 g, 51.3% of tatal catch. The catch rate of bycatch was 2.6% higher than that of target catch. Bycatch weight of snow crap was the highest as 142,987 g and formed about 40.2% of total catch, followed giant octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini, 31,762 g (8.9%). Bycatch rate of cylinder type trap was 2.3 times higher than that of drum type trap. Discard rate (discard/(discard+landing)) was 43.6%. Discard rate was the highest at cylinder type trap with PBS net as 63.1%, followed cylinder type trap with PE net as 47.9%, drum type trap with PE net as 33.4%, the lowest at drum type trap with PBS net as 22.1%.