In this study, we estimated the distribution density of giant jellyfish in coastal waters of Korea in 2023 and compared the occurrence of giant jellyfish over four years. In May, the giant jellyfish were mainly distributed in the waters of the Yangtze River outflow, and in July, they were highly distributed in the west of Jeju Island and near the south coast of Korea. In addition, when comparing the distribution densities of giant jellyfish in Korea over four years, both acoustic and sighting surveys showed that the highest density of jellyfish occurred in 2021.

In this study, the vertical distribution of giant jellyfish analyzed echo counting method and such survey methods as sighting and trawl were used to compare its density estimates. In May and July 2021, surveys were conducted in the East China Sea and the coastal waters of Korea. As a result, Nemopilema nomurai were evenly distributed in all water layers in East China Sea in May and July. When considered the correlation by each survey methods, it is possible to identify jellyfish in the surface area by sighting method and using sampling net; however, it has a low correlation with acoustic estimates due to marine environmental factor such as weather condition, wind and atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the result can be utilized by basic data when estimating jellyfish’s distribution patterns and density estimates from each survey methods hereafter.

A giant jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai), which is presumed developing in the East China Sea, is recently one of major issues in the Northeast Asia region due to its fatal damage to the fishery. The biomass estimates have generally been conducted by trawl sampling and sighting survey methods. The biological research is also needed to clarify such environmental origin or diurnal migration patterns. While trawl sampling or sighting survey methods are effective to investigate its density estimates in its distributed community of near bottom or surface, they have a problem in investigation on the vertical distribution of jellyfishes. In this case, an echo sounding detection would have an advantage to survey it more extensively and effectively. This trial was conducted to observe the vertical distribution of giant jellyfish, where thermocline strongly formed, during mooring at each station of the East China Sea and southern coastal area using acoustical and optical methods. By the results, they were observed to exit and move at the water column under the thermocline using the optical camera and echo sounder system, and the information was analyzed to find out the acoustical sound scattering characteristics relatives to 120kHz frequency. These results can be utilized effectively to estimate the vertical distribution and biomass of Giant jellyfish with comparing results from trawl sampling and sighting survey methods, hereafter.