Data collected by on-board observers and from experimental surveys during 2004-2006 were analyzed to figure out the status of shark bycatch in Korean tuna longline fishery. Results obtained from 10 surveys indicated that 14, 13 and 1 species of shark were incidentally caught in Korean tuna longline fishery operated in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic (Mediterranean) Ocean, respectively, and that shark bycatch accounted for about 29-31% of the total catch. Sharks brought aboard were processed in 3 ways; out of 1,127 sharks observed, 575 sharks (51.0%) were discarded after finning, 299 sharks (26.5%) were stored frozen after finning for future use and 253 sharks (22.4%) were released into the sea immediately after caught. The fin to body weight ratio of sharks was estimated to be about 4.7% which is similar to the guideline of 5% established by the international fisheries organizations. The underestimate of shark bycatch in Korean tuna longline fishery was significant because it was general practice that fishermen on-board did not count the discarded shark as a catch.

This paper described the experimental squid jigging fishery conducted by a commercial fishing vessel in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from August to October 2005. Author carried out experimental jiggings of 65 times during 57 days by three type of jigs which were pick jig, soft jig and soft luminous jig. The total catch, effort/day and catches/line-day of northern shortfin squid (Illex illecebrosus) were 12,726kg, 35 auto jigging machine and 3.5kg, respectively. Higher CUPE was observed in September, August and October. Catch ratio of pick jig was higher by 57-86% than those of soft jig and soft luminous jig. Higher catch was recorded at the 42˚55'N, 62˚10'W with surface temperature ranging 18-21℃. The range of the dorsal mantle length was from 13.5cm to 23.0cm with average 17.2cm for female and from 13.0cm to 20.0cm with average 17.0cm for male. Sex ratio showed 55.4% of female.

This paper summarizes characteristics of the Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). Major fishing area for the Korean tuna purse seine fleet consisted of the waters of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and adjacent high seas between 130˚E-180˚ The center of the Korean tuna fishing ground was in the vicinity of 180˚ during the El - Niño event but was formed in 150˚-160˚E during the La - Niño event. As compared with other major purse seine fleets in WCPO, the Korean fleet set more on unassociated schools of tuna, while Japan, USA and Chinese - Taipei fleets accounted for more than 50% of sets on log - associated schools. In general, CPUES for log - associated schools were higher than those for unassociated schools and catch composition showed that yellowfin ratio was higher in unassociated shools than log - associated schools. Length frequency represented higher percentage of mid - sized yellowfin than Japanese and USA fleets. Daily set numbers and CPUE were high before 7 am and remained almost constant from 7 am to 3 pm but decreased rapidly after 3 pm and 5 pm, respectively. Catch composition per set indicated that pure skipjack school was caught most frequently, followed by mixed school and pure yellowfin school as the least, but CPUE was highest for the mixed school.