In the last five decades, there has been a consistent decline in the total catch of fisheries in the Korean jurisdiction since the peak in 1986. The decline in catch slowed and slightly rebounded in the 2000s, but changed back to a decline in the 2010s. As indicators that can identify changes in the marine ecosystem, trophic level (TL), biodiversity index (H'), and the ratio between pelagic fish and demersal fish (P/D) were analyzed by each local marine ecosystem. There were some different changes in each local marine ecosystem, but the mean TL and H' decreased and P/D increased in general in Korean waters. Demersal fish, which were dominant in the 1970s and 1980s, declined, and small pelagic fish and cephalopods have dominantly changed since the 1990s. However, these changes are not simple, and they are fluctuating in complex ways relating to each marine ecosystem and the timing. It is believed that changes in marine ecosystems in Korean waters are likely caused by a combination of fisheries and climate change. The ecosystem indicators reflected a change in the total catch, a sharp drop in catch of demersal fish, and increasing catch of pelagic fish since the mid-1980s.

The age and growth of pointhead flounder, Hippoglossoides pinetorum caught by gill nets was analyzed in this study from March 2015 to July 2017. New annuli were formed in H. pinetorum otoliths annually, and the boundary was set between the opaque and translucent zones from March and April. The relationships between total length (TL) and body weight (BW) were BW = 0.0025 TL3.409 (r2 = 0.9551) for females and BW = 0.0057 TL3.138 (r2 = 0.9163) for males. In this study, the ring of pointhead flounder, H. pinetorum was formed between 3 and 8 for females and between 3 and 6 for males. Total length (TL) and otolith radius (OR) were measured as follows: TL = 7.142 OR + 0.769 (r2 = 0.793) for females and TL = 6.498 OR + 1.706 (r2 = 0.652) for males. The mean distances of first ring (r1) were 0.92 mm and 0.91 mm for females and males respectively. The TLs at the time of annulus formation, back-calculated from the otolith-length relationship by reference to the von Bertalanffy growth curves, were Lt = 43.59 (1-e-0.15(t+0.007)) for females and Lt = 28.13 (1-e-0.26(t+0.006)) for males while the growth between female and male was different.

낙동강 상류지역 건설사업 이후, 식물플랑크톤의 시·공간 분포특성을 파악하기 위해 2013년 2월부터 2015년 12월까지 낙동강 하구둑에서 가덕도 동편에 이르는 수역에서 격월로 환경요인과 식물플랑크톤을 조사하였다. 환경요인은 연간 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으나, 상·하부수역 및 계절적 차이가 나타났다. 상부수역은 돌말류, 녹조류, 남조류가 하부수역보다 높았고, 특히 담수돌말류와 남조류가 우점하였다. 반면 하부수역은 와편모류가 주로 출현하였다. 상관분석 결과, 상부수역은 Stephanodiscus spp., Asterionellopsis formosa, Microcystis spp.가 주로 담수방류에 의한 인위적인 유입과 관련성이 나타났다. 우점종과 상관관계가 나타난 환경요인은 수온, 풍속, DIP, DIN 등으로 나타났다. 하부수역에서 상위종으로 출현한 와편모류는 대부분 영양염류 및 바람과 상관성이 나타났다. 특히 하부수역에서 Prorocentrum donghaiense은 DIN, 풍속, 강풍발생 일수와 음의 상관성이 나타났고, 하계시기에 집중적으로 출현한다. 유사도와 PCA분석에서도 상부수역은 시기적인 구분이 뚜렷하지 않은 반면 하부수역에서는 계절적인 차이가 발생하였다. 하부수역은 2014년 일부시기를 제외하고, 크게 와편모류가 증가하는 6-8월과 돌말류가 우점하는 10-4월로 구분되었다. 이는 지리적 특성에 의한 담수 방류의 영향범위 차이가 담수종과 영양염류의 유입을 변화시켜 식물플랑크톤 군집특성에 영향을 미치고 있음을 의미한다.

The feeding habits of the Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis were examined based on the stomach contents of 330 specimens caught by offshore large purse seine fishery in the southern sea of Korea, 2011. The size of Pacific bluefin tuna used in this study ranged from 34.1 to 67.3 cm in fork length (FL). The percentage of empty stomachs was 41.8%. The main prey items were Pisces and Cephalopoda based on percentage IRI (index of relative importance). The main fish preys were Trachurus japonicus, Bregmaceros japonicus, Engraulis japonicus, and Cephalopoda were Todarodes pacificus, Loligo edulis, Watasenia scintillans. T. orientalis showed ontogenetic change in diet composition. Although Pisces dominated the diet of all length classes the portion of Cephalopoda was relatively higher in size between 40 and 50 cm other than length classes. In terms of seasonal variation in feeding habits, Pisces was the main prey group in all seasons, but Cephalopoda was also frequently consumed during spring and autumn based on %IRI.

The twenty six specimens of leptocephali (15.8–32.6 mm TL) of the family Congridae, collected from southeastern waters offshore of Jeju Island during August 2014, and were identified by means of morphology and genetics. Those specimens were identified as belonging to the family Congridae based on various combinations of morphological characters. An analysis of the partial 12S rRNA sequences (886 base pairs) of mitochondrial DNA showed that our specimens must be Gnathophis nystromi, because their sequences were concordant with those of G. nystromi adult (genetic distance= 0.001), furthermore their total myomeres being consistent with those of G. nystromi adult. Catch rates of G. nystromi leptocephali were higher in the offshore regions than coastal regions of Jeju Island. The smallest leptocephali (< 20 mm TL) were collected offshore from Jeju Island. We hypothesize that one of the spawning grounds of G. nystromi is located offshore in the Jeju Island. In conclusion, the hatched preleptocephali of G. nystromi might have been transported from offshore near Jeju Island to the Korea Strait by the Kuroshio Current and Tsushima Warm Current.

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.

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.

Three specimens of larvae (5.2~7.8 mm in standard length (SL)), of the family Scombridae, were collected from the southeastern waters off Jeju Island in August, 2014. These specimens were identified to Katsuwonus pelamis have melanophores distributed on the 1st dorsal-fin spines and post ventral margin on caudal peduncle. An analysis of the cytochrome oxidase submit I (COI) sequences (652 base pairs) of mitochondrial DNA showed that our specimens must be K. pelamis, because their sequences were concordant with those of the adult K. pelamis (genetic distance= 0.000~0.002), followed by Auxis rochei (genetic distance= 0.061~0.063) and Euthynnus affinis (genetic distance= 0.077~0.079). During the larval stage, K. pelamis differed from Thunnus spp. species in melanophores distribution period of 1st dorsal-fin spines, lower jaws and ventral margin on caudal peduncle. In conclusion, occurrence of K. pelamis larvae means Korean waters are potential spawning ground of K. pelamis.

This study was performed to estimate biomass and provide management guidance through population ecological characteristics, including growth parameters, instantaneous coefficients of natural and fishing mortalities, and age at first capture of the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus and olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus of Korea. For describing growth of this species, a von Bertalanffy growth model was adopted. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated from a non-linear regression for starry flounder were L∞=48.25 cm, K=0.16/yr, and t0=-1.48, respectively and those for olive flounder were L∞=86.46 cm, K=0.26/yr, and t0=-0.29, respectively. Biomass of Platichthys stellatus was estimated by direct biomass estimation method was 2.6 M/T, that was estimated by indirect method was 13.4 M/Tt. Those of Paralichthys olivaceus were estimated as 10.1 M/T, 19.3 M/T, respectively. An yield per recruit analysis showed that the current yield per recruit on Platichthys stellatus was about 48.2 g with F=0.646/yr and the age at first capture (tc) 1.35yr, that on Paralichthys olivaceus was about 167.6 g with F=1.121/yr and the age at first capture (tc) 1yr.

Coastal fisheries in Korean waters have highly complexity with a variety of fishing gears, and scale of those fisheries is smaller than that of offshore fisheries. As a result, important spawning and nursery grounds for many species of fish has been destroyed. The pragmatic ecosystem-based approach was developed for the assessment of fisheries resources in Korean waters by Zhang et al. (2009; 2010). As for the species risk index (SRI), common squid caught by coastal gillnet in the Uljin region had the highest risk. As for the fisheries risk index (FRI), coastal gillnet in the Uljin coastal waters had the highest risk. For the common squid which had the highest SRI, resources management strategies must be established such as catch prohibition of length and period with TAC. For the coastal gillnet in the Uljin region which had the highest FRI, it is judged to need management plans for conserving biodiversity as reducing the catch of non-target species and discards. Also to protect existing habitat, illegal fishery should be prohibited, and fishing gears should be designed in the environmental-friendly way considering when fishing gears lost.

Korean distant water tuna longline fishery commenced in 1966 in the Atlantic Ocean. Since then, it has become one of the most important fisheries of Korea. By early of 1970s, total amount of tuna caught in the Atlantic Ocean was the highest among other Korean distant water tuna fisheries, but has become minor since 1990s. The annual catch of tuna and tuna-like species by Korean tuna longline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean was about 1,900 mt in 2013. Bigeye tuna was the predominant species in species composition followed by yellowfin tuna, Albacore tuna, Blue shark and Swordfish. Korean distant water tuna longline fishery have mainly operated in the tropical area of the Atlantic Ocean (20°N~20°S, 20°E~60°W), fishing ground was almost similar as in the previous years. The length frequency of major species (Bigeye tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Albacore tuna, Blue shark and Swordfish) were estimated. As the result of length (size) frequency data on main species caught by lonline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean, main length intervals of bigeye tuna caught in 2011, 2012 and 2013 were 120~125 cm, 160~165 cm and 130~135 cm, respectively. For yellowfin tuna, those were 125~130 cm, 150~155 cm, 145~150 cm and for albacore, 109 cm, 102 cm, 109 cm and 106 cm respectively. For swordfish caught in 2011, 2012 and 2013, main length intervals were 130~135 cm, 125~135 cm and 125~130 cm, respectively, and for blue shark, 195~200 cm in 2011 and 185~190 cm in 2012, 2013.

A total of 24 juvenile specimens of Thunnus tonggol (5.45~7.26mm in total length) of the Sombridae were collected from the southeast sea of Jeju Island during 26~30 July, 2013. Twenty-four specimens identified T. tonggol have melanophores distributed on the 1st dorsal-fin rays, the dorsal of head and vetral side. Three individulas were identified using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase submit 1 (CO1) sequences (452 base pairs). All were identified as T. tonggol, their mtCO1 sequences being consistent with those of Thunnus tonggol (d=0.000), followed by Thunnus albacares (d=0.002) and Thunnus obesus (d=0.007).

Distribution pattern and fishing conditions of sandfish, Arctoscopus japonicus in the East Sae were explored using catch and catch per unit effort (CPUE) by eastern sea Danish seine and coastal gill net fisheries from 2004 to 2008. A. japonicus was one of major target species for the eastern sea Danish seine and coastal gill net fisheries in the East Sea, which were caught from April to October for the eastern Danish seine, and from October to December for the coastal gill net, respectively. In recent, the distribution and centroid of fishing ground moved northward, as seawater temperature increased. The species spawned in the coastal areas of Gangwon, northern East Sea, during winter, started to move to deeper water after spawning from spring, extended widely from Gangwon to Ulsan, southern East Sea, during summer, and migrated back to the spawning ground off Gangwon during autumn.

In this study, energy budget was estimated to produce an efficient artificial seed. And it needs to enhance fisheries productivity of sandfish, A. japonicus. In order to estimate energy budget of the sandfish, A. japonicus juvenile fed on nonriched Artemia nauplii (NA) and the enriched Artemia nauplii (EA), of sandfish were reared at constant condition of seawater temperature of natural temperature (NT) and heated temperature (HT). During the reared period, energy used by the reared juveniles were calculated from estimates of data on ingestion, growth, oxygen consumption, nitrogen excretion and energy content. Energy budget of NT-NA, NT-EA, HT-NA and HT-EA were represented as 100C=66.49G+21.28M+0.78F+1.44U, 100C=67.54G+21.40M+9.39F+1.67U, 100C=66.86G+22.66M+8.01F+2.47U and 100C=67.06G+22.96M+7.70F+2.28U. The assimilation efficiency estimated NT-NA, NT-EA, HT-NA and HTEA were represented as 87.78%, 88.94%, 89.52% and 90.02%. Gross growth efficiency estimated NT-NA, NT-EA, HT-NA and HT-EA were represented as 66.49%, 67.54%, 66.86% and 67.06%. Net growth efficiency estimated NT-NA, NT-EA, HT-NA and HT-EA were represented as 75.75%, 75.94%, 74.68% and 74.49%. In this results, two ways could be considered to produce an efficient artificial seed of sandfish. To hasten the growth of sandfish juvenile, heated seawater (HT) and enriched Artemia nauplii (EA) should be inputted to reared condition. And to increase the energy efficiency, natural seawater (NT) and enriched Artemia nauplii (EA) should be inputted to reared condition.

To develop the artificial spawning seaweeds of the sandfish, Arctoscopus japonicus, the effects by the material type of artificial spawning seaweeds were investigated at Dongsan port in Gangwon-do from December 2006 to March 2007. Sargassum fulvellum, S. horneri, rope and net were used as materials for artificial spawning seaweeds, and the most effective thing among them was S. fulvellum. A. japonicus began to attach the egg mass to artificial spawning seaweeds when sea temperature dropped below 10℃ in December, spawned heavily when it was around 8℃ in January, and completed the behavior when it started to increase over 10℃ in February. The hatching period of eggs was estimated to be about 60 days. The middle position in artificial spawning seaweed had the highest number of egg masses and the diameter of the egg mass ranged from 25mm to 62mm. Based on the result for the effects, the artificial spawning seaweeds of A. japonicus were developed and it is possible to use them to form seaweed forests or spawning grounds of other species.

To examine species composition, abundance and biomass of demersal organisms in the East Sea, bottom trawl survey was conducted at 7 sea areas from 2005 to 2007. A total of 107 species were collected and were composed of 54 fish species, 16 crustacea, and 37 mollusks in the East Sea from 2005 to 2007. Yearly abundance per area which caught by trawl survey in the East Sea from 2005 to 2007 ranged from a high of 292,234inds./km2 in 2005 to a low of 192,092inds./km2 in 2006. The abundance by sea area showed a peak in 76 sea area, and the lowest in 63 sea area. The abundance per area by season showed a peak in summer, and the lowest in spring. The most dominant species in abundance were Clupea pallasii, Neocrangon communis, Chionoecetes opilio. Yearly biomass per area which caught by trawl survey in the East Sea from 2005 to 2007 ranged from a high of 10,322kg/km2 in 2006 to a low of 7,096kg/km2 in 2005. The most dominant species in biomass were Chionoecetes opilio, Clupea pallasii, Dasycottus setiger. The biomass by sea area also showed a peak in 76 sea area, and the lowest in 93 sea area. The abundance by season also showed a peak in summer, and the lowest in spring. As a result of cluster analysis, demersal organisms community of 76 sea area showed a large difference with other sea area, and that of summer showed a large difference with other season.

The age and growth of the sandfish, Arctoscopus japonicus were investigated from samples of the eastern sea danish seine and gill net fishery in the East Sea of Korea from February, 2004 to December, 2007. Ages were determined from annuli in otoliths and annuli were formed between December and February once a year. Also, the main spawning period was estimated to be between December and January, thus rings were considered to be annual marks. For the relationship between fork length and total weight, a multiplicative error structure was assumed because variability in growth increased as a function of the length. The relationship between fork length and total weight were TW=0.0083FL3.01(R2=0.966) for female and TW=0.0079FL3.04(R2=0.969) for male. The variability in growth was constant as a function of age, revealing an additive error structure. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated by a non-linear method were L∞=31.6cm, K=0.266/year, t0=-0.835 years for female and L∞=27.7cm, K=0.273/year, t0=-0.806 years for male. Growth at age between male and female had a significant difference(P〈0.001).

Maturation and spawning of the Pacific cod, Gadus macrocephalus was investigated based on the samples captured in East Sea of Korea from April 2006 to July 2007. Gonadosomatic index began to increase in November, and reached maximum between December and January. After spawning it began to decrease from March. Reproductive season was estimated to November-February, with peak in January. Fecundity was proportional to the size of the female, with the clutch size varying from 753,985 eggs in the smallest female(TL＝58.6cm) to 9,311,520 eggs in the largest(TL＝101.0cm). Size at 50% sexual maturity(TL50%) determined from mature females was 56.3cm of TL. Annual reproductive cycles of this species could be divided into six successive stages; immature stage(March-September), nucleolus stage(September-October), yolk vesicle stage(October-November), vitellogenic stage (November-December), ripe stage and spent stage(December-February).