In this study, we aimed to determine the seasonal distribution and biomass of fish in Samcheok marine ranching area (MRA) of Republic of Korea using the scientific echosounder. Fish trap and gillnets were used to identify fish species in the survey area, and dB-difference method was used to estimation the spatio-temporal distribution and density of fish. The results showed that the dominant species in Samcheok marine ranching area were Chelidonichthys spinosus, Sebastes inermis, Hexagrammos otakii and Tribolodon hakonensis. The spatio-temporal distribution of fish showed that fish had a relatively higher distribution at night than during the day. In addition, the density of fish by season was highest at night in July at 34.22 g/m 2 and lowest in April at 0.42 g/m 2 .

Hybrid surveys using hydroacoustic and fish sampling gears such as trammel net, trap were conducted to investigate total biomass, distribution and dominant fish species of the demersal fishes in the marine ranching area (MRA) of Jeju. Four surveys were carried out in June, August, October and November using 38kHz quantitative echo sounder. Catch data using trammel net and trap were used to calculate biomass and to examine dominant fish species. Fish schools were mainly detected in the waters of 20 meters below and around Chagwido waters. By the result of fishing experiments, fish species living in MRA of Jeju were about 40 species, dominant fish species of a detectable fish such as Family Sparidae and Family Monacanthidae etc. were identified 59.4~68.8% of total biomass. Based on the hydroacoustic data, fish length-weight function and target strength information, mean density of the demersal fish estimated were as follows; 0.88g/m2 on June, 1.12g/m2 on August, 1.35g/m2 on October and 1.18g/m2 on November. An estimated average biomass in MRA of Jeju was founded 20.5 tons in 2007, 20.6 tons in 2008, 23.0 tons in 2009, 25.9 tons in 2010. The results showed that biomass of MRA is getting increased slowly. Therefore the hybrid survey method using hydroacoustic and fish sampling gears is assured an effective biomass survey in the waters of mixed species.

The in situ target strengths of, maurolicus muelleri were measured by the split beam echo sounder system at the frequency of 38kHz.Target strengths were measured during the night time in order to obtain the pure separated echoes from the scattered individual. And also it was to establish reasonable threshold due to taking the signals like as the planktons and etc.Since Maurolicus muelleri is a typical micronektonic fish, they mainly consisted of deep scattering layers(DSLs), and had a vertical migration perrodically during daytime and at night.We found that the Maurolicus muelleri occupied about 99% of total catch. Total length ranged from 4.5 to 5.7cm with a mean of 5.2cm and a standard deviation of 0.22cm.The target strengths of Maurolicus muelleir ranged from -60.4 to - 52.7dB and -59.2 to - 52.5 dB in the water layer of 10~30m and 30~50m depth, perspectively. Mean target strength was -57.1dB/fish and -28.5dB/kg. The target strength had the relation with the total length of the fish as, TS=20logL-71.4.