For scientific research, a number of acoustic surveys using commercial echosounders equipped in fishing vessels were conducted throughout the world; however, few studies were performed in South Korea. Hence, this research is an preliminary study for presenting the application of a sounder from a fishing vessel. The fishing operations using a pair trawler (7 Cheonghae) was conducted in the Northwest-Western sea of Jeju Island from 20 to 23 April, 2016. Substantial impulse noises and attenuated signals were eliminated by the latest algorithms. Acoustic signals were grouped into the fish aggregations and long layer-like signals. The fish aggregations appeared between 30 and 60 m, and long layer-like signals showed the diurnal vertical migration. Energetic, morphological and positional properties of the fish aggregations and layer-like signals were described. The fish aggregations appeared mainly between sunrise and sunset; however layer-like signals tended to be presented regardless of time in consideration of the time series analysis. On the basis of the consignment sales, Scomberomorus niphonius, the target species of F/V 7 Cheonghae, was the highest catch with 4,280 kg (74.6%) and might have appeared in fish aggregations and layer forms.
Commercial split beam echosounder (ES70) installed on a krill fishing vessel was calibrated in order to utilize it in estimating biomass of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). The method of calibration was to analyze the difference between the bottom backscattering strength of the commercial split beam echosounder (i.e. ES70) and the scientific echosounder (i.e. EK60) at one of transects near South Shetland Islands designated by CCAMLR. 38 kHz and 120 kHz were used for the calibration, and krill swarm signal levels obtained from multi frequencies, was examined to verify the calibration result. The analysis result indicated possibility of calibration by bottom backscattering strength, since the proportion of krill swarm signals within 2 dB < SV 120 kHz-38 kHz < 12 dB (i.e. a common SV 120 kHz-38 kHz range of 38 kHz and 120 kHz to be an indicator of Antarctic krill) over the total acoustic signals were 26.95% and 92.04%, respectively before and after the calibration.