Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) has been mostly caught by the Korean offshore large purse seine fishery in Korean waters. The annual catch of Pacific bluefin tuna caught by the offshore large purse seine fishery in Korean waters showed less than 1,000 mt until the 1990s except for 1997. The catch sharply increased to 2,401 mt in 2000 and recorded the highest of 2,601 mt in 2003, but the catch has generally decreased with a fluctuation thereafter. The main fishing ground of Pacific bluefin tuna of this fishery is formed around Jeju Island. However, it expanded to the Yellow Sea, the coastal of Busan, and the East Sea, which depends on the migration patterns of Pacific bluefin tuna by season. The CPUE standardization of Pacific bluefin tuna was conducted using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to assess the proxy of the abundance index. The data used for the GLM were catch (weight), effort (number of hauls), catch ratio of Pacific bluefin tuna, moon phase by year, quarter and area. The standardized CPUE from 2004 to 2011, except for 2003 and 2010, showed a steady trend, and then increased until 2014. The CPUE in 2015 decreased, and in 2016 was higher than that in 2015. The result of GLM suggests that the effect of the catch ratio of Pacific bluefin tuna is the largest factor affecting the nominal CPUE.

우리나라에서는 다랑어 선망어업의 기술 경쟁력을 높이기 위한 많은 연구개발이 이루어지고 있으며, 이러한 노력으로 인하여 다랑어 선망어선의 선형개선과 어군 탐지를 위한 레이다, 소나 및 위성정보시스템의 개발로 인해 조업 효율이 향상되었다. 그러나 다랑어 선망어선에 탑재되는 보조 작업선인 스키프보트, 네트보트 및 스피드보트의 경우에는 본선의 기술 현대화에 비해 기술력이 낙후되어 있 는 실정이다. 이에 본 논문에서는 그물을 끌기 위한 양망의 기능과 프로펠러로부터 다랑어를 보호하기 위하여 설치된 철망을 가진 기존 의 네트보트의 선체를 워터제트 추진기 탑재가 가능한 선체로 변경하여 다랑어 보호, 선체저항 감소 및 운항성능 향상하고자 하였다. 결 과적으로 워터제트 형태에 적합한 선형에 대해 해양수산부 고시에 의거한 알루미늄 구조강도 기준을 적용한 시제선 제작하였으며 낙하 시험을 수행하여 안전성을 확인하였다. 또한 해상시운전을 통하여 기존의 네트보트는 2,500 RPM에서 속도는 12.0 knot, 예인력은 2,545 kgf 이며, 워터제트가 탑재된 네트보트는 3,200 RPM에서 속도는 26.7 knot, 예인력은 2,011 kgf로 워터제트가 탑재된 네트보트 또한 다랑어 선망 어선의 보조 작업선으로 예인용량 기준에 충분히 만족함을 알 수 있었다.

This study investigated the drag coefficient and lift coefficient of thirteen kinds of knotless nettings used for large purse seine gear. By comparing the hydrodynamic characteristics with nets of the previous study, the characteristics of this study were derived as a purse seine gear. Thirteen kinds of nettings with different length of bar () and diameter () were used in the experiment, out of which six kinds used the 30 mm in mesh size and three kinds with 40 mm. The drag coefficient ( ) also increased with increasing . It can be expressed as        at a current speed 0.4 m/s and        at a current speed 0.5 m/s. Compared with previous studies, drag coefficient values were similar to knotless net of similar  and smaller than drag coefficient of knot net. Therefore, using knotless net in a purse seine has the advantage of reducing the resistance acting on the purse seine gear.

Tuna purse seine fishery in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) has been rapidly developed since early 1980s due to massive investment of major distant water fishing nations, and catch by purse seine fishery operating in the WCPO accounts for nearly half of the world’s tuna total catch. As fishing efficiency is reflected by not only improving of individual vessel’s capacity but also increasing number of active vessel, it is essential to understand vessel capacity for reliable assessment result on how fishery affects stock status of target species. In this study, fishing efficiency was analyzed by main factors which are representative of vessel capacity using fishing data and vessel information related to Korean tuna purse seine fishery operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean from 1992 to 2014. It showed that fishing efficiency of vessel tends to be higher when having larger vessel tonnage, higher engine power, lower vessel age and larger length of vessel. As for fishing efficiency by set type, CPUE of associated set with floating objects was generally higher than that of free school set, and CPUE of free school set seemed to have a greater effect on engine power and vessel age compared to other factors.

Lots of fishery stocks are overexploited and the overcapacity exists in Korean fishing fleets. One of the reasons is technological development, which increases the efficiency of the vessels continuously. The analysis was conducted to identify the change of fishing power index to develop the vessel and gear technology that may have improved the fishing efficiency of the offshore large powered purse seine fishery from 1960s to 2010s. Gross tonnage and horse power per fishing vessel was increased annually. Fishing gear material was changed to the knotless webbing to settle faster. Fishing equipments was modernized and supply rate was also increased. Therefore the relative fishing power index in the offshore large powered purse seine fishery increased from 0.4 in 1970 to 1.0 in 1980, to 1.5 in 2000 and to 1.6 in 2010, but the rate of increase slowed down gradually. The results are expected to contribute to reasonable fishery stock management.

To suggest more efficient fishing operation, it was analyzed using five years (2011~2015) catch data of six Korean-flagged tuna purse seiners (with 1000 mt of haul capacity) operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean. In terms of annual total catch, it presented a two-year cycle of variation on catch, showing that catches of 2012, 2014 and 2015 were high, whereas those of 2011 and 2013 were low. The proportions on fishing effort of associated set were around 21.9~30.8% having 21.5~45.0% of total catch. In this study, there was no significant difference between catches of unassociated set and associated set. When considered having good fishing conditions, fishing activities were concentrated in the areas of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Kiribati, while it showed that fishing ground spreaded out to the areas of not only PNG and Kiribati but also Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Tuvalu and Solomon islands. The average number of fishing days was 271 with a range of 246~285. As restriction on fishing operation such as reduction of fishing days and higher fishing fee are expected to strengthen, the result of this study will be helpful to select more efficient fishing methods for purse seine fishery based on fishing conditions.

The WCPFC CMMs related to tropical tunas have been strongly restricting fishing capacity and operating activities of main fisheries, especially purse seine fishery. In terms of changes in fishing trend by implementing relevant measures of FAD set, the number of FAD set by Korean purse seine fleet showed a decreasing pattern with the lowest level of FAD set proportion among major distant water fishing nations. With regards to the FAD closure, there was no significant change in fishing effort but a drop in catch, especially bigeye tuna during the period of FAD closure. Moreover, it showed closely similar trends between the number of FAD set and bigeye tuna catch. In terms of measures related to the high sea area including a ban on fishing on the HSP and limitation of fishing days on the high sea by flag state, proportions of catch and effort on the high sea had sharply declined after implementing those measures. As relevant measures are expected to be strengthened, it should pay attention to change of coastal nations policies and focus on improving fishing efficiency of unassociated school set with multi-pronged efforts.

Fishing 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 2014. Changes in fishing ground and correlation between marine environmental factors and fishing patterns were investigated using Oceanographic index. The proportion of unassociated set was higher than that of associated set. The catch proportion of yellowfin was higher in the unassociated set, while that of skipjack and bigeye was higher in the associated set. Due to vessels, fishing gears and Korean captains’ high-level of skills in fishing technology optimized for the unassociated set and preference of large fishes, especially large yellowfin tuna, it showed unique fishing characteristics focusing on the unassociated set. As for fishing distributions of Korean tuna purse seine fishery and impacts of oceanographic conditions on the fishery, the main fishing ground was concentrated on the area of 5°N~10°S, 140°E~180° through the decades. When stronger El-nino occurred, the range of fishing ground tended to expand and main fishing ground moved to the eastern part of western and central Pacific Ocean. During this season, yellowfin tuna had high CPUE and catch proportion of yellowfin tuna in the eastern part also increased. As for the proportion of fishing effort by set type, proportion of log associated set was high during El-nino season while that of FAD associated set was high during La-nina season.

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.

In an attempt to find the improvement of the fishing efficiency according to the hull form remodeling for the 3 tuna purse seiner, the Catch-Per-Unit-Effort (CPUE) for that undertaken before (2008) and after (2010) was analyzed. In addition, the CPUE of 6 similar ships operated same period and same fishing ground. As result, it came to verify that the three modified ships had a significant value on the CPUE. An another index for the improvement of fishing efficiency is the rate of reduction of fuel oil consumption for the modified ships. Fuel oil consumption per day in service speed as comparing with the original ships were reduced 2.1%, 4.0% and 5.1% on the modified ship A, B, and C respectively. And each ship’s service speed was increased 1.0 kt, 0.6 kt, and 0.4 kt according to the modified ship A, B, and C in due order. In the conclusion, the remodeling job with newly equipped bulbous bow, lengthened slipway and enlarged rudder area were improved fairly much on fuel oil efficiency, the ship’s speed, and in the end, that led to the improving fishing efficiency. Hence, the remodeling of tuna purse seiner come to improve not only the fishing performance, but contribute to the reduction of operating cost by saving energy for the fisheries industry.

The powered purse seine fishery is an important fishery accounting for 19.4% of adjacent water fishery production in Korea, and the commercial fishing is associated with high rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational injury. The hazard analysis for the fishermen’s safety of offshore large powered purse seiner was conducted to serve as a basic data for improving the healthy and safe working environment of fishermen using fishermen’s occupational accidents of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives (NFFC) in 2013 (n=583). As a result, the occupational accident occurrence rate of this fishery was 182.6‰ in all industries 30.9 times the rate of that. In addition, death and missing rate was found to have a very serious level management to 25.1‱ in all industries of death of 17.5 times. The accident occurred in 72.3 to 85.8% was happened at sea. The others, slipping and struck by object etc occurred more frequently in order in the frequency of accident occurrence pattern. However, the occurrence rate of death and missing did not match the frequency of accident pattern. In other words, slipping occurred frequently higher while death and missing risk was not high. And the contact with fishing gear and fall in the waters was low while death and missing risk was high. The results are expected to contribute for identification and assessment of safety hazard occurred in offshore large powered purse seiners.

In an attempt to improve the maneuvering character of hull form renovated tuna purse seiner. A renovation was carried out on the 3 tuna purse seiner fishing vessel. To grasp the progress of maneuvering and resistance on ship B (730 ton class), new bulbous bow was only attached. The ship A (740 ton class) and C (600 ton class) were modified for new bulbous bow, enlarged slipway and rudder. And then the zigzag and the turning test were carried out. According to the turning test, the advance and the tactical diameter were improved very much for the modified ship. The sea trial was carried out for the original and modified ship A. It is showed that the results of sea trial corresponded with that of the tank test on the whole. In the result of the zigzag test on ship B, the turning ability was improved very much, but the yaw checking ability was deteriorated in just some degree. In the result of the zigzag test on ship C, the turning ability and yaw checking ability were remarkably improved. Ship C was greatly improved among the three ships for the maneuvering character of modified hull form.

This paper conducted research on identifying the process of change in fishing gear and organizing the function of periodically-used fishing gear types through net plan and computer simulation by selecting the design of the four types of fishing gear used for the Korea tuna purse seiner in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which 1,000 G/T class and whose length over all 60 m class. In the late 1980s, the length of the tuna purse gear was 1,939 m and the design depth was 160 m, but currently, the length and the design depth are 2,515 m and 230 m, respectively. As a result of the simulation, the expansion of the fishing gear increased buoyance, sinking force, sinking depth, surrounded area, and purse wire continuously. Recently, the maximum tension of the currently used purse wire of tuna purse seiner is 23.5 tons and is close to 25.4 tons which is the maximum lift capacity of WS454 winch. The way to improve fishing gear should be proceeded to increase sinking speed rather than expand the size of fishing gear.