In this study, a comparative test operation was conducted through the alternate haul method to examine the selectivity of the four mesh sizes (60 mm, 90 mm, 110 mm, and 130 mm) of the trawl codend. The selectivity was analyzed using the SELECT model considering the fishing efficiency (split parameter) of each fishing gear in the comparative test fishing operation in the trawl and the maximum likelihood method for parameter estimation. A selectivity master curve was estimated for several mesh sizes using the extended-SELECT model. As a result of analyzing the selectivity for silver croaker based on the results of three times hauls for each experimental gear, it was found that the size of the fish caught increased as the size of the mesh size increased. When the selectivity for each mesh size analyzed by the SELECT model considering the split ratio was evaluated based on the size of the AIC value, the estimated split model was superior to the equal split model. Based on the master curve, the 50% selection length value was 2.893, which was estimated to be 136 mm based on the mesh size of 60 mm. In some selectivity models, there was a large deviance between observed and theoretical values due to the non-uniformity of the distribution of fished length classes. As a result, it is considered that appropriate sea trials and selectivity evaluation methods with high reliability should be applied to present trawl fishery resource management methods.
In this study, the selection action on the mesh in the net pot for whelk (Buccinum opisthoplectum) is experimentally considered, and the selectivity was compared by the SELECT model and the Nashimoto’s method with the probability model according to the contact shape of the mesh and the whelk. The experiments of the mesh size selectivity was conducted for two mesh sizes: 70 mm (inner stretched size 65.4 mm) and 44 mm (inner stretched size 39.5 mm). Selectivity experiments were conducted three times in total for each mesh size used 264 whelks. In addition, Nashimoto’s method analyzed the retention probability using probability model for whether the mesh passed or not based on the carapace width of the whelk. As a result of the selectivity analysis, the 50% selection carapace width for the mesh size of 70 mm was similar to 43.62 mm in the SELECT model and 42.64 mm in the Nashimoto's method. However, the 44 mm mesh with relatively small mesh size showed differences of 40.01 mm and 26.80 mm, respectively. As for the mesh size selectivity of whelk, it was found that the smaller the mesh size, the lower the selectivity. In addition, in the selectivity study on the mesh size of whelk, an evaluation method that closely considers the contact shape between the mesh and the target species is required.
The mesh selectivity of a drum shaped pot for finely-striate buccinum (Buccinum striatissimum) was conducted a total of eight times with four different mesh sizes (22, 35, 50 and 60 mm) from May to September, 2019 in the eastern coastal waters of Korea. The size selectivity analysis was estimated by the SELECT method to express logistic selectivity curves. In the results, the catch of finely-striate buccinum was occupied about 90% in the total catch weight. The equation of the master curve of selectivity was estimated to s(R) = exp(-7.778R+9.983)/[1+exp(-7.778R+9.983)]. The relative shell height of 50% selection was 1.284 and the selection range (SR) was 0.282. The optimal mesh size for 50% selection on the minimum maturation size (75 mm, Shell height) was estimated more than 60 mm by the master selectivity curve.
The mesh selectivity of hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) caught by coastal drift gill net was examined in field experiments with three different mesh sizes (45, 50 and 55 mm) from October to November, 2013 in the coastal areas of south-west of Jeju province. The mesh selectivity tests were conducted with the experimental net to be set middle part of conventional driftnets. The mesh selectivity tests were carried out the total of four times. The selectivity curve was estimated by the Kitahara’s and Fujimori’s method. In the results, the catch number of hairtail was 653 (125.8 kg) and occupied 34.8% in total catches weight. The optimal mesh size for 50% selection on the minimum landing size (180 mm, AL) and the first maturity size (260 mm, AL) of hairtail were estimated as 47.2 mm and 64.5 mm by master selectivity curves, respectively.
The annual production of silver croaker (Argyrosomus argentatus) in Korean towed fishing gears has been increased in recent five years. In 2017, the annual production of silver croaker in metric ton was increased 99.2% compared to 2013. However, the research for silver croaker has been focused on ecology in Korea. There has not been enough research in terms of fishing gears. Therefore, the research for retention probability for towed gears was conducted on covered codend method from June, 2016 to July, 2018. During the experiments, the total catch of silver croaker was 1,563. The geometry of the experimental trawl gear was controlled by trawl monitoring system; net height was 3.3 m, distance of trawldoors was 59.8 m and distance of wing net was 17.3 m. The selection curve for silver croaker was estimated by a logit model. The analysis was applied with the confidence interval to reduce uncertainty of the estimation. The l50 was 13.87 cm and its selection range was 2.71 cm. P-value was estimated at 0.99. The mesh size for silver croaker in towed gears needs to be adjusted by considering its minimum maturity length, stakeholder’s interests and fisheries regulations.
Comparative fishing experiments were conducted in the eastern coastal waters near Uljin, Korea from 2002 to 2004, using the experimental trammel nets to estimate the selectivity for spinyhead sculpin Dasycottus setiger. The inner panels of the nets were made of nylon monofilament with four mesh sizes (82.2, 89.4, 104.8, and 120.2 mm) while its two outer panels were made of twisted nylon multifilament with a mesh size of 510 mm. The SELECT (Share Each Length’s Catch Total) procedure with maximum likelihood method was applied to obtain a master selection curve. The different functional models (normal, lognormal, bi-normal, and logistic model) were fitted to the catch data. The lognormal model with the fixed relative fishing intensity was chosen as the best-fitted selection curve through comparison of model deviance and AIC (Akaike’s Information Criterion). The optimum relative length (the ratio of fish total length to mesh size) with the maximum relative efficiency was obtained as 2.492.
Spinyhead sculpin Dasycottus setiger, a species of cold water fish, is distributed along the eastern coastal waters of Korea. A series of fishing experiments was carried out in the waters near Uljin from June, 2002 to November, 2004, using the experimental monofilament gill nets of different mesh sizes (82.2, 89.4, 104.8, and 120.2 ㎜) to describe the selectivity of the gill net for the fish. The SELECT (Share Each Length’s Catch Total) analysis with maximum likelihood method was applied to fit the different functional models (normal, lognormal, and bi-normal models) for selection curves to the catch data. The bi-normal model with the fixed relative fishing intensity was selected as the best-fit selection curve by AIC (Akaike’s Information Criterion) comparison. For the best-fit selection curve, the optimum relative length (the ratio of fish total length to mesh size) with the maximum efficiency and the selection range (R50%,large - R50%, small) of 50% retention were obtained as 2.363 and 0.851, respectively. The ratios of body girth to mesh perimeter at 100% retention where the selection curve of each mesh size represented the optimum total length were calculated as the range of 0.86 ~ 0.87.
Morotoge shrimp Pandalopsis japonica is caught by pot and others in the eastern coastal waters of Korea. Comparative fishing experiments were carried out in the eastern coast of Korea, using the dome–shaped pots with different five mesh sizes (17.1, 24.8, 35.3, 39.8, and 48.3 mm) in order to estimate the mesh selectivity of the pot for the morotoge shrimp, Pandalopsis japonica. The SELECT (Share Each Length’s Catch Total) analysis method was applied to the catch data. The master selection curve of the pot for the shrimp was estimated to be s(R) = exp(15.770R–10.573)/[1+exp(15.770R–10.753)], where R is the ratio of carapace length to mesh size. From the selection curves, the carapace lengths of 50% retention were 11.6, 17.0, 23.9, and 34.1 mm for 17, 25, 35, and 50 mm mesh–size pot, respectively. It means that the pots of larger mesh size allow more shrimp of small size to escape.
Starfish, a species of Echinoderm, is widely known as a predator on benthic invertebrate. A series of fishing experiments was carried out in the western coastal waters of Korea from September, 2011 to November, 2012, using the drum–shaped pots of different mesh sizes (17.1, 24.8, 35.3, 39.8, and 48.3 ㎜) to describe the composition of the catch species and the mesh selectivity of the pot for starfish. Some species including fish, crab, and starfish were caught in the experimental pots. The SELECT (Share Each Length’s Catch Total) method was applied to describe the selectivity of the pot for starfish Asterina pectinifera. The master selection curve was estimated to be s(R) = exp(10.358R–4.086) / [1+exp(10.358R–4.086)], where R is the ratio of arm length to mesh size. The relative arm length of 50% retention was 0.395, and the selection range was 0.212. The results should be helpful to understand the relationship between the catch size of starfish and the mesh size of pot.
A series of field tests to estimate the size selectivity of monofilament and multifilament gill net for marbled sole, Pleuronectes yokohamae, were carried out 12 times with five different mesh sizes (86.6, 101.0, 121.2, 137.7 and 151.5mm) in the western sea of Korea from 2007 to 2009. The master selection curve was estimated by the extended Kitahara’s method. The total number of catch species was 23 and that of catch was 1,688 in the field tests. Marbled sole of total catch was 1,150 with 68.1 percent. In the monofilament trammel net, the optimum value of total length (TL) per mesh size (m) for 1.0 of retention probability was estimated 0.280 and the values of TL/m were estimated to be 0.187, 0.201, 0.210, 0.218 and 0.226 when the retention probability were 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, respectively. In the multifilament trammel net, the optimum value of TL/m for 1.0 of retention probability was estimated 0.307 and the values of TL/m were estimated to be 0.195, 0.211, 0.222, 0.232 and 0.241 when the retention probability were 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, respectively.
Finely-striate buccinum Buccinum striatissimum, a species of whelks, is caught mainly by pot in the eastern coastal waters of Korea. In order to determine the size selectivity of pot for the species, comparative fishing experiments were conducted near Yeongil Bay from June to September in 2003 using the dome-shaped pots with different five mesh sizes (17.1, 24.8, 35.3, 39.8, and 48.3 mm). The parameters of logistic equation were estimated by the SELECT (Share Each Length’s Catch Total) method based on a multinomial distribution. The model with the estimated split parameter was found to fit the catch data best. The master selection curve was estimated to be s (R)=exp (13.044R-16.438)/[1 + exp (13.044R-16.438)], where R is the ratio of shell height to mesh size. The relative shell height of 50% retention was 1.260, and the selection range was 0.168. Enlargement in mesh size of the pot allows more small-sized whelks to escape.
Fishing experiments were carried out in the adjacent sea of Yeongil Bay, the eastern cost of Korea from 2003 to 2004 using the dome-shaped pots with different five mesh sizes (17.1, 24.8, 35.3, 39.8, and 48.3mm) in order to determine the size selectivity of pots for the whelk, Buccinum opisthoplectum. The catch species were composed of Buccinum opisthoplectum (45.4%), Buccinum striatissimum (30.1%), Pandalopsis japonica (9.3%), Chionoecetes opilio (8.9%), and so on. The shell height (l) of Buccinum opisthoplectum caught in the experimental fishing pots was measured. The SELECT (Share Each Length's Catch Total) analysis method was applied with fishing data to obtain master selection curve. The model with the estimated split parameter was found to fit the catch data best. The master selection curve was estimated to be s (R)〓exp (7.833R-10.871)/[1 + exp (7.833R-10.871], where R is the ratio of shell height to mesh size. The relative shell length for 50% retention was 1.388, and the selection range was 0.281. It means that the pots of larger mesh size allow more whelks of small size to escape.
The mesh selectivity of the gillnet for Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) was examined in field experiments with four different mesh sizes (63, 69, 75 and 81mm) from June to July, 2013 in the coastal areas of Imwon in Gangwon province. The fishing performance tests were conducted with a commercial Pacific herring gillnet and a biodegradable gillnet for Pacific herring together selectivity tests. The filed tests were carried out the total 11 times. The master curve of selectivity was estimated by the extended Kitahara's method. In the results, the catch number of Pacific herring was 9,409 (2,203kg) and occupied 84.2% in total catches weight. The optimal mesh size for 50% retention on first maturity size (female, 250mm) of Pacific herring was estimated as 64.5mm by master selectivity curves. The fishing performance of the biodegradable gillnet was showed to be equivalent with commercial gill for Pacific herring.
To estimate the mesh selectivity of gillnet for ocellate spot skate (Okamejei kenojei), the field tests were carried out 12 times with six different mesh sizes (121.2mm, 137.7mm, 151.5mm, 168.3mm, 178.2mm, 189.4mm) in the coastal waters of Taean, Chungcheongnamdo of Korea, 2010~2011. In the field tests, the total number of species was 31, and that of catch was 1,410 and the total weight was 618,006g. The number and weight of ocellate spot skate which is main target in this study were 1,004 and 434,592g, respectively. The catch in number of ocellate spot skate occupied about 71.2% in total catch. The others of catch species were marbled sole (8.4%), sea raven (4.4%), japanese swimming crab (4.2%) and flatfish (4.1%) and so on. The range of body disk width (DW) of ocellate spot skates which were caught in this study was 15.2~35cm and the mode was 27~29cm. The estimation equation of mesh selectivity using the extended Kitahara's method was expressed as s (R)=s(DW/m)=exp{(-0.56R3-1.80R2+12.96R-9.99)-4.26}. The optimum value of DW/m for 1.0 of retention probability in this estimation equation was estimated 1.899 and DW/m was estimated to be 1.194, 1.314, 1.395, 1.461 and 1.520 when the retention probability were 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, respectively. When applied to the retention probability of 0.5, the optimum mesh size was estimated to be 177.0mm on first maturity disk width 26.9cm of ocellate spot skate.