This study analyzed the reproductive biology, fishing characteristics and changes in fishing business of Liparis tanakae, snailfish collected from September to March. It was the period when they were mainly caught from 2018 to 2020. The average length was generally small in September and October and was large in January and February. The average body weight was generally around 1,500 g and the average body weight in autumn was lower and in winter was higher. The sex ratio of male and female was 0.40:0.60 (χ 2 test, p < 0.05). The spawning period was estimated from October to February and the main spawning period was from December to February through the GSI. The egg diameter of matured staged female L. tanakae was 0.11-1.48 mm, which was the main spawning period and the relationship between body weight and fecundity was F = 1849TL0.1093 (r2 = 0.2401). The monthly catch of L. tanakae was high from November to February, the time of migrating to the coastal area. Coastal gillnet fishery showed the highest percentage of all fisheries catching Liparis spp. Liparis spp. were caught at a high rate in winter in Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam and Gyeongnam region, and revenue and cost was increased since 2017. Assuming a situation where there is no catch of Liparis spp., the fishing profit that can be obtained was the highest in Gyeongnam region and the dependence on fishing of Liparis spp. by coastal gillnet fishery was high.

It was turned out by shrimp beam trawl monthly survey from March, 2015 to February, 2016 that different species composition and abundance of the fish assemblages in Sacheon Bay and coastal waters off Namhae, Korea were compared. As a result of monthly measured sea temperature and salinity of Sacheon Bay and coastal waters off Namhae, sea temperature of both areas was changed seasonally; however, differences in sea temperature occurred during certain periods depending on the region. Salinity was generally low in Sacheon Bay affected by fresh water, and both areas was low in summer and high in winter. A total of 73 species representing 37 families were collected in Sacheon Bay. The dominant fish species in terms of numbers and biomass were Liparis tanakae, 23,077 inds./km2, 332.1 kg/km2. A total of 91 fish species representing 49 families were collected in coastal waters off Namhae. The dominant fish species in terms of numbers were Leiognathus nuchalis, 139,683 inds./km2 and biomass were Chelidonichthys spinosus, 1,078.6 kg/km2. Analysis of dendrogram of the clustering showed that Sacheon Bay and coastal waters off Namhae were distinctive featured (global R = 0.691, p = 0.017). And except of summer season (July-October), there was a distinctive feature seasonally (global R = 0.844, p = 0.001). The fish species that appeared in common in both areas, where fish species caught in Sacheon Bay, an important inner bay,were smaller than those caught in coastal waters off Namhae appeared. It presented that Sacheon Bay plays a more important role in spawning and nursery ground for fisheries resource than coastal waters off Namhae, Korea.

We examined the characteristics of egg and larval distributions and catch changes of anchovy in relation to abnormally high sea temperature in the South Sea of Korea in summer 2015 and 2016. The densities of anchovy eggs and larvae in the southern coastal region were lower in July-August 2016 than in July-August 2015. In particular, anchovy eggs and larvae (approximately 5 mm TL) were rarely observed in the coastal region in August 2016 due to the abnormally high SST (up to 28°C), which was above the optimum spawning temperature of anchovy. The catch of non-swimming stage (< 2 cm TL) larval anchovy was lower in July-August 2016 than in July-August 2015. The decreased catch of larval anchovy in July-August 2016 could be attributed to decreased spawning density in June-July 2016. In contrast, the catch of swimming stage (> 2 cm TL) anchovy was increased in July-August 2016. In the summer of 2016, prominent sea temperature near the southern coast of Korea and sea temperature higher than 30°C in the offshore region of the South Sea of Korea could greatly enhance the retention of swimming anchovies in the coastal fishing grounds.

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.

According to the catch condition of Scomberomorus niphonius in autumn season affected greatly, the catch price for the set net fishery. Catch production and the selling price were relatively even except 2009 showing a great big blooming jellyfish of Nemopliema nomurai in 2008~2011. The fishing cost of the set net fishery in Yeosu has increased gradually by the decrease of catch production and unexpected environmental change like as jelly fish blooming. The increase of fishing cost diminished net income and caused a negative impact in profitability. The lowest Fisheries ratio of gross profit to gross costs the set net fishery were appeared 60.2% in 2010, respectively.Bycatch was highest in 2008 and lowest in 2009. In general, the bycatch was occurred from May to July every year and when Scomber japonicus was most dominant in the catch price by bycatch had a advantage in the profit side. However, the catch increase of immature small fishes by the bycatch, which will bring about the decrease of fisheries resources. Finally, the present state in set net fisheries will act as a defect on the long-term management of fisheries resources.

The annual and monthly fluctuation in the species composition and the catch abundance of dominant species were analyzed using the daily sales slip catch data by a set net in the offshore waters off Dolsan Island in Yeosu from March 2004 to December 2011. Mean catch from 2004 to 2011 is 372M/T and the maximum and the minimum catch are 526 M/T in 2005 and 27 2M/T in 2009, respectively. The dominant species were Engraulis japonicus mainly in spring and Scomberomorous niphonius in Autumn and therefore the set net catch that is dominated by S. niphonius's catch was much higher in autumn than in spring. Through comparative analyses for the environmental factors to the annual catch fluctuation, it is revealed that the water temperature variation affected the recruitment property of S. niphonius to the fishing ground but the effect of typhoon on the catch fluctuation was not distinct. Furthermore, the big blooming event of jellyfish, particularly Nemopilema nomurai, that occurred in 2009 showed a tendency of faster appearance and later extinction until December. The occurring characteristic of N. nomurai became a direct cause that brought about the lowest total catch in 2009 since the dominant species catch of the set net fishery was concentrated mostly in Autumn.