Estimations on population ecological parameters of the small yellow croaker, Larimichthy polyactis in Korean waters, were calculated using catch data based on coastal and offshore drift gillnet fishery and biological data from 2010 to 2012. The population ecological parameters included survival rate, instantaneous coefficient of natural and fishing mortality and age/length at first capture. The survival rate (S) of the small yellow croaker was estimated to be 0.20 from catch curve method. The instantaneous coefficient of natural mortality (M) was estimated to be 0.46/year with Alverson and Carney method. The instantaneous coefficient of total mortality (Z) was 1.611/year, used to be transformed the survival rate and the instantaneous coefficient of fishing mortality (F) were 1.153/year. The length at first capture (Lc) was 19.1cm by Pauly method, and the age at first capture (tc) was 1.303 years of the small yellow croaker by the coastal and offshore drift gillnet fishery.

It was turned out by the beam trawl survey in 2009 that flora of three phylum 16 species and fauna of eight taxa 68 families 97 species were inhabited in the Seomjin River estuary and western coastal waters of Namhae island. Winter season showed the most various appearance of species with 63 species and markedly several kinds of algae species, while summer season showed the lowest number of species with 44 species. However, the indices of species diversity and evenness were highest in summer, and vice versa in winter. Major dominant species were Crangon hakodatei, Leiognathus nuchalis, Asterias amurensis, Thryssa kammalensis, Luidia quinaria, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Oratosquilla oratoria, Charybdis bimaculata, Cynoglossus joyneri, Pennahia agentata. The 10 dominant species occupied at 81.4% of catch in number and 49.0% of catch in weight. There were seasonal fluctuations and differences by station in the Seomjin River estuary and western coastal waters of Namhae island, which brought to the difference of length structures, that is, bigger-sized individuals of major dominant species at station A (near to river estuary) than station C (near to ocean). Species compositions by season and by station were separated to two groups. Winter season showed a separated species composition from other seasons and station A exhibited a different species composition from other stations, which was located at near to the Seomjin River estuary.

In this study, we conducted field surveys to investigate and analyze species and length composition of catch from gape net with wings being set in two areas - Masari, Supomri - located in southern part of Jin-do for understanding fishing characteristics of gape net with wings fishery from March to September of 2011. And with those results, we attempted to propose fishery management strategy to harvest fisheries resources continuously. Catch obtained from field surveys comprised total 78 species, which accounted for 53 species of fish, 20 species of crustacean, 4 species of cephalopod and one of polychaete. As to species composition in weight, it showed that there was 88.5% for pisces, 9.0% for cephalopoda and 2.5% for crustacea. As to catch specifics by area, there was 36 species (596,891 individual, 456,551g) of pisces, 17 species (35,815 individual, 12,909g) of crustacea and 3 species (2,876 individual, 3,004g) of cephalopoda in Masari area. In Supumri area, there was 41 species (396,898 individual, 281,457g) of pisces, 15 species (16,113 individual, 7,772g) of crustacea and 4 species (6,792 individual, 72,329g) of cephalopoda and one polychaeta (36 individual, 11g). Catch of anchovy by month recorded on high level on June, July, September in both areas. When considering size composition by month, it was found that new populations recruit to these fishing grounds on June and September. Most of bycatch species including hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus), dotted gizzard shad (Konosirus punctatus), conger eel (Leptocephalous), Pacific sandlance (Ammodytes personatus), horse mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) were juvenile, and grass puffer (Takifugu niphobles), Kammal thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis), Japanese sardinella (Sardinella zunasi) were also small in size. As a result, it is considered that gape net with wings fishery which is likely to catch juvenile needs to be set fishing prohibit period for conserving above stocks during the period excluding main fishing periods of anchovy or fisheries management such as expanding mesh size for preventing juvenile catch.

It was compared the estimated parameters by the surplus production from three different models, i.e., three types (Schaefer, Gulland, and Schnute) of the traditional surplus production models, a stock production model incorporating covariates (ASPIC) model and a maximum entropy (ME) model. We also evaluated the performance of models in the estimation of their parameters. The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of small yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) in Korean waters ranged from 35,061 metric tons (mt) by Gulland model to 44,844mt by ME model, and fishing effort at MSY (fMSY) ranged from 262,188hauls by Schnute model to 355,200hauls by ME model. The lowest root mean square error (RMSE) for small yellow croaker was obtained from the Gulland surplus production model, while the highest RMSE was from Schnute model. However, the highest coefficient of determination (R2) was from the ME model, but the ASPIC model yielded the lowest coefficient. On the other hand, the MSY of Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon) ranged from 16,880 mt by ASPIC model to 25,373mt by ME model, and fMSY, from 94,580hauls by ASPIC model to 225,490hauls by Schnute model. In this case, both the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) and the highest coefficient of determination (R2) were obtained from the ME model, which showed relatively better fits of data to the model, indicating that the ME model is statistically more stable and robust than other models. Moreover, the ME model could provide additional ecologically useful parameters such as, biomass at MSY (BMSY), carrying capacity of the population (K), catchability coefficient (q) and the intrinsic rate of population growth (r).

한강 하구 해역에서 2010년 4월부터 2011년 11월까지 총 9회에 걸쳐 출현한 생물은 5 분류군 61과 126종이었다. 갑각류는 18과 34종, 두족류는 3과 5종, 어류는 35과 79종으로 분류되었으며, 그 외 종단위로 분류되지 않은 자포동물류인 해파리류와 포유류에 속하는 상괭이가 출현하였다. 한강 하구 해역의 출현종의 대부분은 어류와 갑각류로 구성되었다. 연구기간동안 주된 우점 종은 그라비새우, 꽃게, 밀새우, 갯가재 등이었으며, 어류로는 웅어와 싱어이었다. 우점한 6종에 대한 체장조성 및 평균체장을 살펴보면, 하나 이상의 체장모드를 가지는 것으로 나타났다. 하나 이상의 모드를 가지는 것은 한강 해역에 출현하는 종들이 일정시기 또는 일생동안 한강 하구 해역에서 서식하며, 산란장 또는 성육장으로 이용하고 있다는 것을 반영한다. 한강 하구 해역중 강과 가장 가까운 정점인 더리미에서는 민물어류가 출현하였으며, 홍수 등 담수의 대량 방류 시기와 조사 시기가 일치하는 경우에 민물어류가 하구 해역에서 채집되는 것으로 생각된다. 연도별 정점별 종조성을 이용하여 주성분분석을 실시하였다. 그 결과 종조성은 조사시기별 정점별 차이를 나타내었다.

This study is to find out the distribution characteristic of Octopus minor in the Tando Bay on the southwest coast of Korea with conducting surveys from May of 2006 to April of 2007. Surveys were carried out at 20 stations on 2 and 3 tide time in the low speed of high tide at night and conducted during 30minutes (4 times fishing) per station. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was estimated by total catch per 500hooks at each station. Monthly CPUE showed that they put highest in October, November, April and June at 10.4, 10.5, 9.4 and 7.7 individuals respectively. On the other hand, CPUE put lowest in January, the coldest month, and August, the hottest month, at 0.2 and 0.3 individuals respectively. As for geographical mantle length distribution, average mantle length ranged from 6.2cm to 7.3cm at stations near the tidal channels (St. 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 and 20), and was smaller than 6.0cm at stations located inside of bay (St. 2, 3, 7, 11, 12 and 17). In terms of geographical distribution density, CPUE showed higher than 8.0 at St.4 in Changmaeri, St.8 in Taecheonri, St.13 near Seondo, St.18 in Naeri and St.14 in western part of Tando which are located near the main tidal channels. And distribution density showed low that CPUE was lower than 5.0 individuals at stations located inside of bay (St. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 16 and 20). Through the results, the difference of distribution density reflects that distribution of Octopus minor is affected by direction of current and inflow of pollutant from land in direct. Therefore, it is considered that bottom composition of tidal flat and distribution of live food are the crucial cause of identifying the distribution characteristics of Octopus minor. For this reason, it is judged to need additional research on it.

For rebuilding and managing fish stocks and fisheries, the biological and socioeconomic evaluations on fisheries management regulations are important. This study aimed to estimate the economic effectiveness of different mesh sizes in the yellow croaker gillnet fishery. In particular, by comparing economic effects of mesh sizes, 50mm and 52mm, it aimed to provide the economic validity for increasing mesh sizes. Analytical results showed that the fishing revenue was higher in the vessels using a mesh size over 52mm than that in the vessels using a mesh size less than 50mm. In addition, the effect of fishing cost reduction was also larger in the vessels using a mesh size over 52mm than that in the vessels using a mesh size less than 50mm.

Reproductive ecology of the sharp toothed eel, Muraenesox cinereus was investigated based on the samples captured in southern Korean waters from January 2010 to December 2011. Gonadosomatic index began to increase in April, and reached maximum between July to August. After spawning it began to decrease from October. Reproductive season was estimated to April-September, with peak in July. Fecundity was proportional to the size of the female, with the clutch size varying from 56,000 eggs in the smallest female (anal length, 27.0cm) to 1,400,000 eggs in the largest (anal length, 49.5cm). Size at 50% sexual maturity (AL50), determined from mature females, were 21.9cm. Annual reproductive cycles of this species could be divided into four successive stages; immature stage (October-February), maturing stage (March-May), mature stage (June-August) and spent stage (August-October).

Changes in ecosystem risks were evaluated using the ecosystem-based fisheries assessment (EBFA) approach of Zhang et al. (2009, 2010) and the comprehensive ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) plan was made for the southern sea of Korea in this study. The risk assessment of the southern sea ecosystem was conducted by establishing ecosystem management objectives and by estimating risk scores (RS) for indicators. To conduct this analysis a number of indicators and their reference points for assessing these risk scores were developed in this study. The number of indicators in the risk analysis was 28 for the quantitative tier 1 analysis and 30 for the qualitative tier 2 analysis. The objective risk index (ORI), species risk index (SRI) and fisheries risk index (FRI) were calculated from the risk scores. Comparing the past (1988) and the current (2008) status of fisheries resources, management implications were discussed. The fishery risk index (FRI) of large purse seine fishery in the southern sea of Korea decreased substantially from 0.972 in 1988 to 0.883 in 2008, and improvement in the management of fisheries operated in the southern sea of Korea.

Species composition of fishes and the recruitment properties of jack mackerel, Trachurus japonicus, in the waters around the Geumo Islands in the mid-South Sea were investigated by using both sides fyke nets every month from February to December 2010. During study period, a total of 30,503 fishes (1,380.4 kg) were collected and classified into 2 classes, 16 orders, 61 families and 121 species. The dominant species was jack mackerel occupying 80.5% of total individuals and 44.4% of total biomass. The fork length range of jack mackerel was 5.5-26.8 cm and individuals about 6 cm was appeared only in the middle and southern area of the Geumo Islands in May. The new recruitment of jack mackerel appeared from May in the waters around the Geumo Islands is probably caused by the warm water intrusion associated with the development of stratification due to the extinction of seasonal coastal cold waters by the increase of solar radiation heat. Furthermore, the jack mackerels less than 6 cm recruiting in the mid-South Sea in spring were considered as mixed ones by individuals spawned in the East China Sea and in the waters around the Jeju Island considering the collected time, migration period and spawning time of them.

Maturation and spawning of the Shotted halibut, Eopsetta grigorjewi was investigated based on the samples captured in South Korean waters from January 2008 to December 2009. Gonadosomatic index began to increase in December, and reached maximum between January to March. After spawning it began to decrease from May. Reproductive season was estimated to January-April, with peak in February. Fecundity was proportional to the size of the female, with the clutch size varying from 170,000 eggs in the smallest female (total length, 28.9cm) to 1,300,000 eggs in the largest (total length, 41.5cm). Size at 50% sexual maturity (TL50), determined from mature females, was 28.8cm. Annual reproductive cycles of this species could be divided into six successive stages; immature stage (May-October), nucleolus stage (November-January), yolk vesicle stage (January-February), vitellogenic and ripe stage (January-April) and spent stage (April-May).

This study is to contribute to income growth of fishermen by the common octopus fishery characterized in the Tando Bay on the southwest coast of Korea. This area is engaged in Longline fishing (301 persons), Shovel fishing (196 persons), Trap fishing (14 persons) and Torch light fishing (40 persons) in 2008. Population who is joined in the spring becomes main fishery target population of longline fishery in the fall because entering fishing ground in August, and is joined in the fall becomes main fishery target population of longline fishery in the spring because entering fishing ground in December. Average size of common octopus examined by longline 6.26cm, 5.82cm for Shovel fishing, 8.09cm for trap, and expressed big difference by fishery. It needs necessary various kinds of Octopus resource management actions and methods in continuous use. Specially, Fishing force increased by fishing automation system, so the reduction of fishing force is needed to increased by fishing force. Government support and fishermen's self-conscious of resource management is needed.

Characteristics of age and growth of the black rockfish, Sebastes inermis sampled in the Jeonnam Marine Ranching Area (JMRA) around Geumo Islands south of Yeosu were investigated using 642 otoliths from March 2009 to February 2010. The opaque zone was formed in September once a year and hence it was used as an annulus. The parturient period was December to January, and therefore the duration from fertilization to the complete formation of the opaque zone was nineteen months. From the parameters calculated using the average length when the year ring was formed, growth of S. inermis were expressed by von Bertalanffy growth equation as Lt=23.267 (1-e-0.4406(t+1.1971)) for females and Lt=22.030 (1-e-0.5312(t+0.6834)) for males when is total length in age t. Through the growth equations, the maximum length was determined as 23.27cm for females and 22.03cm for males and the growth factor as 0.4406/yr and 0.5312/yr, respectively. Finally, the growth of female S. inermis is larger than the one of male S. inermis.

Fishes were caught by a bottom trawl in the Yeo-ja bay of Korea by every three month(March, June, September and December) and seasonal variation of abundance and species composition were studied in 2005. The catches were 1,187kg and were composed of 115 species with 20 hauls by 5 stations. The dominant species caught were Charybdis bimcaulata, Crangon hakodatei, Parapenaeus fissurus, Oratosguilla oratoria, and Thryssa purava. One hundred fifty species were identified as fish(38%), crustacea(20%), mollusca(4%) and others(38%) which including of Asterias amurensis. The amount of species was high in June and September and low in March and December. The diversity index(H') was about 1.2－2.5 and station similarity of fishes caught among the community was 0.009－0.230.