In this study, the fish-migration ratios of rivers were analyzed, with the aim of proposing objective materials to help South Koreans to establish fish migration systems efficiently in the future. A total of 34,012 weirs have been built in the five major basins, with 5,081 fish-ways observed. Consequently, the fish migration ratio was considered low (14.9 %). According to the findings of the study analyzing the 5,081 fish-ways, standard-type fish-ways took up 68 % of the total while the non-standard types accounted for 32 %. The five major basins were observed to have a total fish-migration ratio of 21.4 %. Regarding tributaries, Tributary 1 accounted for 27.5 % of the fish-migration ratio, while Tributary 2 and 3 accounted for 19.8 % and 16.3 %, respectively. In conclusion, the study argues that any relevant field in the fishing industry of South Korea needs to improve their understanding of the fish-migration ratio. This would be expected, eventually, to help them maximize the efficiency of a minimum number of fish-ways. In addition, the study supports the need for those in relevant fields to study carefully the ecological needs of each fish species, before establishing priority standards for the building of fish-ways.

Fish passage asssessments were conducted in the fishway at Juksan Weir, which was constructed as a four-major rivers project in the downstream area of Youngsan-River Watershed. For the research, fish-movements/migrations were analyzed for seven times from April ~ October, 2013 using an approach of fish trap-setting. Fish fauna and compositions were analyzed in the fishway, and seasonal- and diel-movement patterns were analyzed in relation to current velocity in the fishway. Also, abundances of exotic fishes such as bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), large-mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and white curcian carp (Carassius cuvieri) were monitored in the fishway. Current velocity(n = 18) in the fishway showed large variations (0.82 ± 0.63 m/s) depending on the location of the fish trap-setting and this physical factor influenced the fish movements. Fish movements, based on the CPUE of individuals, in the fishway was greater in slower velocity (mean: 0.36 m/s, range: 0.10~1.54 m/s) than faster velocity (mean: 1.51 m/s, range: 0.90~1.90 m/s). Seasonal analysis of fish movements showed that most frequent uses (8 speices and 591 individuals, 66.2% of the total) of the fishway occurred in spring period(i.e., June). Diel movement analysis, in the mean time, showed highest in the time period of 00:00 ~ 3:00 am (7 species and 281 individuals, 20.9% of the total). The efficient managements in the fishway at Juksan Weir are required in relation to the hydrological regime.

The objective of this study was to evaluate fish passage efficiency, based on fish-trap monitoring methodology, in the fishway of Seungchon Weir, which was constructed on the lower region of Yeongsan River in 2011. Seasonal patterns and diel variations of fish movements, fish fauna, and compositions in the fishway were analyzed in relation to the current velocity and location of the trap-setting in the fishway. For the analysis, we conducted seven times surveys in 2012 on the fishway and also conducted intensive monitoring of the fishway as 3 hrs interval for the diel variations of fish fauna and compositions in the fishway. According to the fish-trap monitoring methodology, the total number of fish species was 13 species, which was a 43.3% of the total. Most dominant fish used the fishway was Squalidus chankaensis tsuchigae and the relative abundance of the species used the fishway was 33.5% of the total. The season and time zone (in diel variation) observed most frequently in the fishway were July and 18:00-21:00 PM, respectively. The fish movements and use-rates of fishway varied depending on the locations of trap-setting; Fish biomass and the number of species were statistically (p < 0.05) greater in the most right or left-sided traps than in the mid-traps. Also, fish movements and use-rates of fishway were influenced by current velocity on the fishway; fish in the fishway preferred the low current velocity (mean 0.71 m/sec) than the high current velocity (mean 1.13 m/sec). Further long-term studies should be monitored for the efficiency evaluations of the fishway.