Jinhae Bay located in the southern of Korean Peninsular is an important spawning area in Korea. By some preliminary studies it was measured several times that adult Pacific codes (Gadus microcephalus) were passed (swimming layer: 15 to 18 m) over a submerged sea tunnel (sea bottom: about 30 m) rather than another immigration route when the Pacific codes were tagged surgically with an acoustic transmitters and released inside of the Bay. There is a possibility that the Pacific codes and the other fishes use the route on the sea tunnel as an immigration route are affected by a human–generated underwater noise around the sea tunnel due to the sea tunnel traffic. On this study the 25–hour measurements of the underwater noise level by water layer were conducted with a hydrophone attached on a portable CTD and an underwater noise level meter during four seasons, and the acoustical characteristics of the underwater noise was analyzed. The mean traffic volume for one hour at the sea tunnel on the spring was shown the largest value of 1,408 [standard deviation (SD): 855] vehicles among four seasons measurement. The next one was ordered on the autumn [1,145 (SD: 764)], winter [947 (SD: 598)] and summer [931 (SD: 558)] vehicles. Small size vehicle was formed 84.3% of the traffic volume, and ultra–small size, medium size, large size and extra–large size of the vehicle were taken possession of 8.7%, 3.2%, 2.0% and 1.8%, respectively. On the daily change of the noise level in vertical during four seasons the noise level of 5 m–layer was shown the highest value of 121.2 (SD: 3.6) dB (re 1 μPa), the next one was 10 m– layer [120.7 (SD: 3.5)], 2 m– and 15 m–layer [120.3 (SD: 3.5 to 3.7)] and 1 m–layer [119.2 (SD: 3.6)] dB (re 1 μPa). In relation with the seasonal change of the noise level the average noise level measured during autumn was shown the highest value of 123.9 (SD: 2.6) dB (re 1 μPa), the next was during summer [121.4 (SD: 3.2)], spring [118.0 (SD: 3.4)] and winter [116.5 (SD: 5.1)] dB (re 1 μPa). In results of eigenray computation when the real bathymetry data (complicate shape of sea bed) was applied the average number of eigenray was 2.68 times (eigenrays: 11.03 rays) higher than those of model bathymetry (flat and slightly sloped sea bottom). When the real bathymetric data toward inside (water depth becomes shallow according to a distance between the source of noise and hydrophone) of the Bay was applied on the eigenrays calculation the number of the eigenray was 1.31 times (eigenrays: 12.49 rays) larger than the real bathymetric data toward outside (water depth becomes deep with respect to the distance). But whenthe model bathymetric data toward inside of the Bay was applied the number of the eigenray was 1.05 times (eigenrays: 4.21 rays) larger than the model bathymetric data toward outside.

The present study is undertaken to evaluate the effect of volume fraction on the results of Charpy impact test for the rubber matrix filled with nano sized silica particles composites. The Charpy impact tests are conducted in the temperature range 0°C and –10°C. The range of volume fraction of silica particles tested are between 11% to 25%. The critical energy release rate GIC of the rubber matrix composites filled with nano sized silica particles is affected by silica volume fraction and it is shown that the value of GIC decreases as volume fraction increases. In regions close to the initial crack tip, fracture processes such as matrix deformation, silica particle debonding and delamination, and/or pull out between particles and matrix which is ascertained by SEM photographs of Charpy impact fracture surfaces.

This study was performed to estimate biomass and to provide management plan through population ecological characteristics, including survival rate, instantaneous coefficient of natural and fishing mortalities, and age at first capture of Flathead grey mullet, Mugil cephalus, in the coastal waters of Yeosu. Survival rate (S) of the flathead grey mullet was 3.671. The instantaneous coefficients of natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) was estimated to be 0.325 /year, 0.962 /year for flathead grey mullet. Also fist capure age of flathead grey mullet was 3.61year. The current biomass of the flathead grey mullet in the study area was estimated to be 19.6 M/T and F0.1 and F40% were estimated 0.340 /year, 0.225 /year. For the stock assessment result, flathead grey mullet was not overfished but overfishing.

As a series of research plan, this study is to provide basic data necessary for the development of fishing industry which will contribute in establishing sound fishing culture in Jeju island through systematic management of fishing, protection of fishery resources and establishment of safety measures for fishermen in accordance with ‘Fishing Management and Support Act’. To attain the proposed objective, this study conducted literature review and surveys on restriction standards of harmful substances generated from fishing equipment and baits, examined the current status of fishing management in popular fishing sites of other cities, and then reviewed and analyzed the fishing management and fishing–restriction zones in Jeju island. The survey on the opinions on the restriction criteria of fishing methods, tools and period, including the acceptable standards for harmful substances showed that general fishermen preferred ‘alleviating the measure (44.8%)’ to ‘aggravating the measure (23.0%)’. Meanwhile, maritime police showed dominant opinion toward ‘aggravating the restriction (52.2%)’ over ‘alleviating the measure (4.3%)’. Furthermore, fishing–related enterprise is favored ‘aggravating the restriction (32.6%)’ over ‘alleviating the measure (27.9%)’. In the survey on the tolerance of fishing baits including criterion for content of certain substance in different types of bait, it showed 57.5% of general fishermen preferred alleviating restriction criteria while 20.7% of them favored tougher restriction. Whereas, 33.3% of maritime police group insisted such fishing baits should be more restricted while 16.7% answered it should be alleviated. 35.9% of fishing–related enterprise was in favor of alleviation while 14.3% preferred aggravation. Upon investigation on the status of fishing management in other cities and towns, it turned out that most of them had safety and convenience facilities, installed warning and guide signs in fishing sites, and set no fishing zones. The review of fishing management and restricted area showed that 10 sites required access restriction and 2 of 10 sites were considered to be partially restricted for weather and season. 82 fishing sites were regarded as unnecessary to be restricted and installation of safety facility and guide signs is necessary for the safety of fishermen.

The hydro–acoustic technology has been widely used in not only South Korea but also many foreign countries for various scientific purposes. Unfortunately acoustic data especially collected from field surveys may contain noises caused by a variety of sources. Therefore, it is exceedingly important to eliminate noises when acoustic data are analyzed to derive quantitative results. This study introduced two methods for eliminating noises easily and effectively using post–processing software. Used acoustic data were collected on the Jinhae bay and Tongyeong coast of the South Sea in April 2015. The first method, that is the Wang’s method, placed emphasis on ‘erosion filter’ to eliminate only data samples contaminated by noises. The second method (Yamandu’s method) focused on the ‘resample by number of pings’ to remove pings contained noises. To substantiate the effectiveness of two methods, the mean Sv (Volume backscattering strength), mean height and depth of the fish schools detected were compared between before and after using the noise elimination methods. In the Wang’s method the mean Sv was decreased from –52.4 dB to –52.9 dB, and in the Yamandu’s method from –52.6 dB to –53.3 dB, indicating that noises were successfully eliminated. The mean height (1.5 m) and depth (19.0 m) were same between before and after using two methods showing that the shapes of fish schools were not changed.

This study was focused on acoustic scattering characteristics of jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) at frequency 38, 70, and 120 kHz by Kirchhoff-ray mode (KRM) model. The body length (BL) of 16 individuals ranged in 12.2~22.0 cm (mean±S.D.: 17.8±3.2 cm) and the swimbladder length ranged in 4.2~8.6 cm (mean±S.D.: 6.6±1.6 cm) and the swimbladder cross section ranged in 1.7~6.6 cm2 (mean±S.D.: 3.8±1.6 cm2). This result shows that results correlate well between the BL and the length and cross section of swimbladder. The swimbladder angle ranged in 7~12°and the maximum TS values ranged in –16~–5°at tilt angle. The averaged TS-to-BL relationship were TS38kHz=20log10BL-65.33 (R2=0.66), TS70kHz=20log10BL-65.90 (R2=0.67), and TS120kHz=20log10BL-66.65 (R2=0.65). These results can be used fundamental data in order to estimate distribution and biomass of jack mackerel by using hydro-acoustic method.

Fishing trend and characteristics of Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Pacific Ocean were investigated using logbook data compiled from captain onboard and the statistical data from 1980 to 2013. The historical catch of this fishery had sharply increased since mid–1980s, and it has shown fluctuations with about 2–3 hundred thousands, whereas the catch per number of vessel has steadily increased with fluctuations since commencing this fishery. As for the proportion of catch by set type, unassociated type had increased from the mid–1980s to the end of 1990s, and then has decreased up to 2010s. Associated type had decreased continually to the end of 1990s, however, it started to increase since the beginning of 2000s. As for the catch proportion of set type by main species, those of skipjack tuna and bigeye tuna showed higher in the associated type, whereas that of yellowfin tuna has the highest proportion in the unassociated type. Fishing distribution of Korean tuna purse seine fishery was concentrated on the area of 5°N~10°S and 140°E~180° through the decades. The monthly catch distribution by longitudinal zone of Korean tuna purse seine fishery expanded the most further to the eastward in September to October.

Acoustic target strength (TS) measurement and theoretical acoustic scattering models were applied to estimate the TS for assessing the fish biomass. TS measurement was made of ex situ sailfin sandfish Arctoscopus japonicus at 70 and 120 kHz, and then compared to backscatter model prediction. The live sandfish was tethered in seawater using monofilament lines. Measurements were made versus incidence angle, −50° to 50° relative to dorsal aspect directions. Distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA) model was used to calculated TS pattern. The TS values of sandfish (body length: 16.2 cm) at 70 and 120 kHz were ‒66.94 dB and ‒64.45 dB, respectively, and were about 20 dB lower than TS of other fishes in Korea waters. These TS levels were distributed within the range of the theoretical TS. Ex situ measurement and theoretical TS may be applied to improve acoustical detection and biomass estimation of the sandfish, and is necessary to measure with various lengths.

Morotoge shrimp Pandalopsis japonica is caught by pot and others in the eastern coastal waters of Korea. Comparative fishing experiments were carried out in the eastern coast of Korea, using the dome–shaped pots with different five mesh sizes (17.1, 24.8, 35.3, 39.8, and 48.3 mm) in order to estimate the mesh selectivity of the pot for the morotoge shrimp, Pandalopsis japonica. The SELECT (Share Each Length’s Catch Total) analysis method was applied to the catch data. The master selection curve of the pot for the shrimp was estimated to be s(R) = exp(15.770R–10.573)/[1+exp(15.770R–10.753)], where R is the ratio of carapace length to mesh size. From the selection curves, the carapace lengths of 50% retention were 11.6, 17.0, 23.9, and 34.1 mm for 17, 25, 35, and 50 mm mesh–size pot, respectively. It means that the pots of larger mesh size allow more shrimp of small size to escape.

Starfish, a species of Echinoderm, is widely known as a predator on benthic invertebrate. A series of fishing experiments was carried out in the western coastal waters of Korea from September, 2011 to November, 2012, using the drum–shaped pots of different mesh sizes (17.1, 24.8, 35.3, 39.8, and 48.3 ㎜) to describe the composition of the catch species and the mesh selectivity of the pot for starfish. Some species including fish, crab, and starfish were caught in the experimental pots. The SELECT (Share Each Length’s Catch Total) method was applied to describe the selectivity of the pot for starfish Asterina pectinifera. The master selection curve was estimated to be s(R) = exp(10.358R–4.086) / [1+exp(10.358R–4.086)], where R is the ratio of arm length to mesh size. The relative arm length of 50% retention was 0.395, and the selection range was 0.212. The results should be helpful to understand the relationship between the catch size of starfish and the mesh size of pot.

The study aims at a selective effect of the Grid and Window net in the shrimp beam trawl.The experimental trawling of the Proto type, Grid type and Grid and Window net type was performed in a sea area of Geo–je and Tong–yeong from Mar, 2006 to Apr, 2010. The obtained results are as follows; Catch per unit area (Number) of the Proto type net and Grid type net were 0.18/m2, 0.23/m2, respectively. The Grid type demonstrated 2.4% lower bycatch rate than the proto type (6.6% vs 4.2%, respectively). In addition, in terms of total weight, the bycatch rate of Grid type was 7.6% lower than the proto type (50.2% vs 42.6%, respectively). In the comparison of shrimp catch, the Proto type demonstrated better haul outcome (0.02 case/m2) than the Grid & Window type (0.02 case/m2). The Grid & Window net type demonstrated 16.4% lower bycatch rate than the Proto type (32.2% vs 48.6%, respectively). In addition, in terms of total weight, the bycatch rate of Grid & Window net type was 8.3% lower than the Proto type (85.9% vs 94.2% respectively).

Pacific herring Clupea pallasii eggs were attached to the gill net in Korean coastal waters off Busan. To conservation and management the eggs attached to the gill net, we followed the natural hatching in coastal waters from five days after fertilization to the hatching finished, where the temperature was 9°C. The diameter of fertilized eggs was 1.24–1.55 mm (n= 50), and had a segmented pale yellow yolk, no oil globule. Natural hatching had started by 10 days after fertilization. Mass hatching occurred around 11–12 days after fertilization, most of eggs separated from the gill net. Therefore, when the Pacific herring eggs attached in gill net, should be natural hatching–induced in coastal waters during 12–14 days.

To examine species composition, abundance and biomass of fishes in the northwestern East Sea of Russian EEZ, trawl survey were conducted at 31 sampling stations from 2006 to 2008. Also, trawl survey were conducted at 21 sampling stations in the southwestern East Sea of Korean EEZ from 2006 to 2008. A total of 67 fishes were collected in the northwestern East Sea of Russian EEZ, a total of 39 fishes were collected in the southwestern East Sea of Korean EEZ. Among them, a total of 53 fishes were collected in the northwestern East Sea of Russian EEZ only, and a total of 25 fishes were collected in the southwestern East Sea of Korean EEZ only. Mean abundance per area which caught by trawl survey in the northwestern East Sea ranged from a high of 116,478 inds./km2 in 2008 to a low of 19,737 inds./km2 in 2006. And mean abundance per area in the southwestern East Sea ranged from a high of 89,129 inds./km2 in 2006 to a low of 8,234 inds./km2 in 2008. Mean biomass per area which caught by trawl survey in the northwestern East Sea ranged from a high of 11,333 kg/km2 in 2008 to a low of 2,439 kg/km2 in 2006. And mean biomass per area in the southwestern East Sea ranged from a high of 6,273 kg/km2 in 2006 to a low of 1,062 kg/km2 in 2008. Cluster analysis, based on a Bray–Curtis similarity matrix of fourth root transformed data of number of species and individuals per area, showed division into three different groups by depth in the northwestern and southwestern East Sea.