This study aimed to analyze the profitability and economic feasibility of hairtail trolling line gear that was developed for the last 3 years (2015-2017). The new fishing gear technology development was accomplished to solve the current problem of fishermen shortage in hairtail targeting fisheries in Jeju region. Results indicated that the profitability of developed hairtail trolling line fishery was estimated to be 36.1 % which would be higher than that of other hairtail targeting fisheries in Jeju region. In addition, as an economic feasibility, the net present value and the internal rate of return of a 20-year cash inflow and outflow were evaluated to be 400.2 million won and 66.9 %, respectively. However, sensitivity analyses of main variables showed that the profitability and economic feasibility would be vulnerable to catch amount and market condition changes.

In this study, we tested Japanese trolling lines in the Jeju fishery. This fishery simulates the natural marine environment with many seabed rocks, and has been redesigned and manufactured it to be suitable for the Jeju fishery. In order to ensure that the trolling lines were deployed at the inhabitation depth of hairtails, the conditions required for the fishing gear to reach the target depth were determined for use during the experiment. The experimental test fishing was conducted at the depth of 120 m water in front of Jeju Seongsanpo and in the offshore area of Jeju Hanlim. The fishing gear used in the test fishing is currently used in a variety of field operations in Japan. However, several problems were identified, such as twisting of the line during its deployment and excessive sinking of the main line. The fishing gear was, therefore, redesigned and manufactured to be more suitable for the Jeju fishery environment. For the fishing gear to accurately reach the target depth, depth loggers were installed at the starting point of the main line and at the 250 m and 340 m points of the line. Depth and time were recorded every 10 seconds. According to the daytime positioning of hairtails in the lower water column, the target depth of the fishing gear was set at 100-110 m, which was 10-20 m above the sea floor. At a speed of 1.9 knots and with a 9 kg sinker attached, the main fishing line was deployed and catch yields at depths of 100 m, 150 m and 180 m were recorded and analyzed. When the 180 m main line was fully deployed, the time for the hairtail trolling lines to arrive at the appropriate configuration had to be 5 minutes. At this time, the depth of the fishing gear was 16-23 m above the sea floor, in accordance with the depths at which the hairtails were during the day. In addition, in order to accurately place the fishing gear at the inhabitation water depth of hairtails, the experimental test fishing utilized the results of the depth testing that identified the conditions required for the fishing gear to reach the target depth, and the result was a catch of up to 97 kg a day.

To improve the efficiency of hairtail trolling, it is important to gain an accurate understanding of the distribution of fish based on their diurnal vertical migration patterns. This study evaluated the vertical distribution of hairtails through catch efficiency tests using vertical longlines. Five replicate tests of the efficiency were carried out on the eastern coast of Jeju Island from August to September 2016, from 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM in the daytime and 11:00 PM to 03:00 AM in the nighttime. The fishing gear was composed of 20 hooks per line set, numbered in order from the first hook near the surface to the last hook on the seabed. The depth of the first hook was 18 m, and that of the last hook was 86 m. Pacific saury was used as the baits. In total, 10 sets of fishing gear were used per trip. After fishing, we counted the hairtails at each numbered hook, which were summed up both by number and in aggregate. A total of 232 hairtails were caught using 2,000 hooks: 193 individuals at daytime and 39 at nighttime. The hook rate was 11.5% : 9.6% at daytime; 2.0% at nighttime. For both daytime and nighttime catches, there were variations in the hook rates at each numbered hook. In the daytime, a maximum of 28.5% catches occurred at hook number 18, followed by 21.4% at number 20, and 10.7% at number 17, accounting for 60.6% of the daytime hook rates. In the nighttime, a maximum of 23.0% catches occurred at hook number 1, followed by 15.3% at hook number 4 and 9, accounting for 53.6% of the nighttime hook rate. Based on the above results, hairtails are usually distributed in deeper region in daytime, whereas they occur near the surface in nighttime. Therefore, it is necessary to position trolling lines according to diurnal vertical distribution layers of hairtails for fishing efficiency.

This study carried out an experiment to find out the reaction of hairtail, Trichinus lepturus to the colors of LED light as a basic study on the development of the trolling gear and a method to enable the day-night operation. We used hairtails caught around Seongsan-po, Jeju Island by set nets and hairtail angling. The seven hairtails of the average length 68.9 cm (SD 9.2 cm) and the average weight 135.9 g (SD 47.9 g) were adapted themselves in the experimental water tank, 15 m Self-Governing 1.7 m in height and 1.5 m in depth, and then they were studied. We conducted experiment at the Ocean and Fisheries Research Institute in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, from November to December 2015, and the sea surface temperature was between 16.5 and 19.5℃. The four colors of LED light, blue, white, green and red, were set up to transmit downward from the marginal area of tank. The 1 meter depth light intensity of LED colors is as follows: 0.09 w/m2/s (blue), 0.18 w/m2/s (white), 0.04 w/m2/s (green) and 0.007 w/m2/s(red) To know the optimum LED color light, we selected one with better reaction rate after comparison of two colors simultaneously and the selected color was again compared to the other color in a tournament style two times a day (day and night) and ten times totally. The reaction rates were shown as the frequencies of hairtail appearance for 5 minutes in the lighting zone after turning on the LED lights. The reaction rate of the blue was at 97% unlike the red 3% (p < 0.001). The blue was at 75% unlike the green at 25% (p < 0.001). The blue was at 67% unlike the white at 33% (p < 0.001). Therefore, the color of light source showing the highest reaction rate was the blue.