The small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) is one of the representative high-class fish species in Korea. The catch of small yellow croaker in adjacent water fisheries has been continuously decreasing from 59,226 tons in 2011 to 19,271 tons in 2016. The small yellow croaker is caught by gillnet, stow net and bottom trawl, among which about 55~65% is caught by gillnet. For the sustainable use of small yellow croaker, the fishing power of small yellow croaker drift gillnet is very important. Therefore, the change of fishing power index were analyzed to identify the development of the vessel and gear technology that may have improved the fishing efficiency of the small yellow croaker drift gillnet fishery from 1960s to 2010s. Gross tonnage and horse power per fishing vessel was increased annually. The mesh size was 75.0 mm in the 1960s, but reduced to 60.6 mm in the 1980s and to 51.0 mm in the 2000s. In the 1960s, it was hauled out by manpower. However, the net hauler were modernized and supply rate was also increased since 1970. Due to the mechanization of the net hauler, the number (length) of used net gradually increased from 1.5 km in the 1960s to 7.5 km in the mid-1980s and to 15 km in 2010. Colour fish finders and positioning system were introduced and utilized from the mid-1980s. Surveys on the supply and upgrading of fishing equipment utilized visiting research. Therefore, the relative fishing power index in the small yellow croaker drift gillnet fishery increased from 1.0 in 1980 to 0.8 in 1970, to 1.1 in 1990, to 1.6 in 2000 and to 1.9 in 2010. The results are expected to contribute to reasonable fisheries stock management of the small yellow croaker drift gillnet fishery.

Estimations on population ecological parameters of the small yellow croaker, Larimichthy polyactis in Korean waters, were calculated using catch data based on coastal and offshore drift gillnet fishery and biological data from 2010 to 2012. The population ecological parameters included survival rate, instantaneous coefficient of natural and fishing mortality and age/length at first capture. The survival rate (S) of the small yellow croaker was estimated to be 0.20 from catch curve method. The instantaneous coefficient of natural mortality (M) was estimated to be 0.46/year with Alverson and Carney method. The instantaneous coefficient of total mortality (Z) was 1.611/year, used to be transformed the survival rate and the instantaneous coefficient of fishing mortality (F) were 1.153/year. The length at first capture (Lc) was 19.1cm by Pauly method, and the age at first capture (tc) was 1.303 years of the small yellow croaker by the coastal and offshore drift gillnet fishery.

For rebuilding and managing fish stocks and fisheries, the biological and socioeconomic evaluations on fisheries management regulations are important. This study aimed to estimate the economic effectiveness of different mesh sizes in the yellow croaker gillnet fishery. In particular, by comparing economic effects of mesh sizes, 50mm and 52mm, it aimed to provide the economic validity for increasing mesh sizes. Analytical results showed that the fishing revenue was higher in the vessels using a mesh size over 52mm than that in the vessels using a mesh size less than 50mm. In addition, the effect of fishing cost reduction was also larger in the vessels using a mesh size over 52mm than that in the vessels using a mesh size less than 50mm.

The fishing conditions of flying squid, ommastrePhes barsram(Lesueur), in the North Pacific Ocean was studied based on the horizontal water temperature data, satellite data from NOAA and statistical data of flying squid fisheries which were collected from 1980 to 1984. The obtained results were as follows; 1. Since 1979, the Korean drift giIlnet fishery for flying squid was launched in North Pacific. Number of operating vessel and catch of flying squid increased gradually every year. The number of vessels were 111 and their annual catches were 42, 977 M/T in 1984. Therefore, Korean drift giIlnet fishery for this species has played an important role in the products of Korean high-sea fisheries. 2. In the beginning of the fisheries, fishing grounds was formed in the west of long. 1800E. In 1982, in consequence of the center which extended eastward, the fishing ground was formed long. 166˚W in the central North Pacific Ocean. Since 1983, the fishing grounds were formed as far as long. 161˚W. The range of general fishing season in the central North Pacific was from June to August. After september, fishing ground was shifted to the west, in the Northwestern Pacific. 3. The Predominant fishing season for the flying squid was August through January of the coming year. Optimum water temperature for flying sguid at surface layer in the Pacific Ocean ranged from 11 ˚e to 17˚e in winter, 13˚e to 17˚e in spring, 12. 8˚C to 19.7˚e in summer and 1O.6˚e -18.7˚e in fall. 4. In summer, the Oceanographic condition in the North Pacific Ocean showed that the water temperature at surface layer was lower in 1980, 1983 and higher in 1981, 1982 and 1984 as compared with mean annual water temperature. 5. The characteristics df oceanographic conditions in the fluation, disformation, mixing and other factors of the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents, which have considerably influenced upon the water masses of the areas. 6. The data and information on surface thermal Structure interpreted from Infrared Satellite Imaginary from NOAA-7 and NOAA-8 are very available in estimating water temperature on the areas and investigating the major fishing grounds. 7. According to the fisheries statics of Japanese drift gilInet, the annual catches of flying squid considerably decreased from 225, 942 M/T in 1983 to 133, 217 M/T in 1984. 8. The fishing grounds in the central North Pacific in several fishing seasons were formed as follows: In June, the initial fishing season, the fishing grounds were formed in the vicinity of lat. 35 - 40oN, the central North Pacific east of 179˚E. In July, the fishing ground were formed in the wide arEa of the central North Pacific north of 400N and long. 174˚E-145˚W In Auguest, concentrative fishing operation carried out in :he central North Pacific north of 43˚N and East of 165˚W. On the other hand, in September, main fishing grounds were disappeared and moved to the west.