The Indian Ocean is the second-largest tuna fishing ground in the world, accounting for approximately 1.2 million tonnes (23%) of the estimated 5.2 million tonnes of global commercial tuna catch in 2023. This study examined the relationship between tuna catches, specifically skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin tunas, and prey biomass (Nautical Area Scattering Coefficient, NASC) estimated from acoustic surveys conducted in the southwestern Indian Ocean from 20 April to 15 May 2019. Environmental variables were derived from the Copernicus Ocean Model, and tuna length data from the IOTC. The estimated total tuna catch in the study area was approximately 166,400 tonnes, with the northwestern region showing the highest catches and NASC values. Tuna catches increased with NASC; however, the relationship was non-linear. While skipjack showed no significant correlation with NASC, bigeye and yellowfin tunas exhibited weak but significant positive correlations. Environmental analysis revealed that the northern waters had high surface temperatures, low salinity, and low oxygen levels, with mid and deep layers characterized by low temperature, salinity, oxygen, and chlorophyll. These findings offer a foundation for understanding tuna distribution in relation to prey and environmental conditions, highlighting the need for future species- and fishery-specific studies to support sustainable tuna resource management.

This study aimed to enhance the operational efficiency and safety of offshore eel trap fisheries by developing six types of automated fishing equipment: a bait crusher, bait cutter, main line arranging device, trap cleaning device, eel sorting device, and fish pump system. Sea trials demonstrated that the bait crusher and bait cutter significantly reduced manual labor and processing time while maintaining bait quality. The main line arranging device improved productivity and safety by automating the sorting of looped cords. The trap cleaning device effectively removed fouling organisms using high-pressure water and rotating brushes. The eel sorting device enabled automatic size-based selection, improving resource management and operational efficiency. The fish pump system transferred eels rapidly with minimal physical damage, reducing unloading time by over 80% and decreasing labor requirements. A satisfaction survey of fishery participants confirmed that all developed devices were highly effective in reducing workload, enhancing safety, and improving operational performance. The automated equipment developed in this study is expected to contribute to the sustainable management of offshore eel trap fisheries and to offer potential applicability to other coastal and offshore fisheries.

This study examined the offshore eel trap fishing process using one year of fishing logs and fishermen’s insights to identify key operational challenges and propose equipment improvement for greater efficiency and safety. Conger eel catches varied significantly by season, depth, and temperature, peaking in winter at 85–90 m and 23°C. The western waters of Jeju Island were identified as a major fishing ground, with the highest catch recorded in November and the lowest in July, reflecting seasonal trends. Each fishing operation deployed about 10,000 traps, with an average loss of 38 traps, posing economic concerns. The process involved intensive manual labor in bait preparation, trap retrieval, catch separation, line loading, and unloading, leading to high physical demands and safety risks. To address these issues, the study proposed automation through the development of a line loading device, trap cleaning device, bait processing machine, and automatic catch separator. These innovations could reduce the labor force required by one to two workers per process, alleviate workloads, and enhance resource management. By integrating quantitative logbook analysis with field-based knowledge, this study offers practical value. Further research is recommended on automation development, cost-effectiveness, and field validation to support safer and more sustainable eel trap fisheries.