This study analyzed the selectivity of Octopus minor using the extended SELECT model in netpots. The data used for the analysis were collected from ten sea trials conducted between 2009 and 2010 using cylindrical octopus traps with six mesh sizes (16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 mm). The selectivity analysis was performed using two models: the p-fixed split model and the p-estimated split model, depending on whether the encounter probability (split parameter) was estimated. The model fit was evaluated by comparing the model deviation and AIC values. The results showed that octopus catch decreased as mesh size increased, with a general tendency for larger individuals to be caught. The 16 mm trap, which had the smallest mesh size, accounted for 25.9% of the total octopus catch by number of individuals while the 22 mm trap, a commercial mesh size, accounted for 14.1%. The CPUE based on weight was highest for the 18 mm trap. The selectivity analysis results indicated that the p-estimated split model provided the best fit, and the 50% selection length for the 22 mm trap was 64.57 mm. In this study, reliability of various models was considered in the mesh selectivity analysis, and the findings are intended to serve as basic data for improving relevant regulations and deriving scientific research results.

In this study, for the purpose of reducing the catch of small giant octopus in a net pot, an escape experiment of octopus was performed on five types of escape rings of different sizes. As a result of the experiment, the smallest giant octopus with a weight of 406 g was found to escape from an escape ring with a diameter of 30 mm or larger, and 592 g octopus, a weight similar to the octopus of the current minimum landing weight (600 g), escaped from an escape ring with a diameter of larger than 40 mm. An individual weight with 406 g becomes 39 mm when converted from a diameter of 25 mm circular escape vent; that is, the circumference to the inner diameter of the mesh. It can be inferred that the converted mesh size of 39 mm cannot escape. Logistic regression analysis was performed using a generalized linear model (GLM) to investigate the correlation between the ratio of escape ring size/Mantle diameter (R/MD) and the escape rate. As a result, it was found that there was a significant correlation between the R/MD ratio and the escape rate and that the higher the R/MD ratio, the greater the escape rate. As a result of logistic regression analysis, the R/MD value was denoted 0.520 with the 50% escape rate. In addition, it can be estimated to be about 50 mm when converted to the mesh size. Therefore, in this study, the diameter of the escape ring and the size of the escape possible of the octopus were experimentally considered. It was found that there was a significant correlation.

This study was conducted to analyze fishing capacity and bycatch by mesh size and entrance size of spring net pot conductedby water tank and field experiment. The water tank experiments were conducted by using traps with mesh size of 22 mm and entrance size of 120 mm and 140 mm, respectively in the water tank of NIFS. The field experiment was conducted using 5 kinds of spring net pot with mesh sizes of 20 mm, 22 mm, 35 mm and entrance size of 120 mm, 130 mm, 140 mm, 360 mm by coastal trap fishery vessel operating around the area of Geoje island. In the result of water tank experiments, the catch of conger eel was 1.5 times higher when using trap with entrance size of 140 mm than that of 120 mm. In the field experiment, when using same mesh size, the larger the entrance size, the higher amount of conger eel catch, bycatch and number of bycatch species. When using the same entrance size, the larger the mesh size, the lower amount of conger eel catch and number of bycatch species, whereas the amount of bycatch showed increasing trend.

This paper presents the mesh selectivity of a net pot for common octopus Octopus minor for the sustainable resources management of common octopus. The filed experiments were carried out the total 10 times in the southern part of coastal sea in Korea from March to May in 2010 using net pots of five different mesh sizes (16, 18, 20, 22 and 26mm). The test of size selectivity, indicated a 50% selection value on the logistic master curve of 3.195, whereby 50% of individuals with a mantle size of approximately 70.3mm selected a mesh size of 22mm. Considering that 50% of common octopus entering sexual maturity have a mantle size of 70.6mm, the optimum mesh size should be equal to, or larger than 22mm.

Species composition and seasonal variation of aquatic organism in the coastal waters off Taean, Korea were investigated using catches by commercial fishing of the pot and gill net from April 2010 to January 2011. A total of 58 species, 10,602 individuals and 547,569g of aquatic organism were collected during the study. Aquatic organism were composed of 22 species of Pisces, 20 species of Crustacea, 8 species of Gastropoda, 3 species of Echinodea, 2 species of Cephalopoda and Bivalvia, and 1 species of Holothuroidea. 41 species in 9 orders and 22 families were collected by the pot, and 28 species in 15 orders and 22 families were collected by the gill net. Volutharpa ampullacea was the most dominant in the pot, while Okamejei kenojei was the most dominant in the gill net. These two species accounted for 73.9% in the number of individuals, and 64.4% in biomass. The number of species was high in spring in the pot, and autumn in the gill net. The number of individuals and biomass were highest in winter and summer respectively in the pot, and summer in the gill net. The number of species of the consignment quantity caught by commercial fishery of the pot and gill net in Mohang was 12 and 14 respectively. Cluster analysis based on species composition of the 18 most common species showed that the species were separated into 3 different group. Group A was composed of species which were abundant in spring, group B was composed of species which were abundant in summer and autumn, and group C was composed of year-round residents.

Test fishing was carried out using six kinds of different mesh sizes (20, 22, 24, 28, 35, 40mm) for springnet-pot to study bycatches according to the mesh size and catches survey was done for another one (mesh size : 22mm, entrance round : 350mm) in Geo-je & Tong-young waters of Korea. On the first sea experiment, it was thought that suitable mesh size of spring-net-pot catching conger-eel over 35cm with decreasing the catches of conger-eel (Conger myriaster) below 35cm was 24mm. On the second sea experiment, commercial catches were crabs (Charybdis bimaculata), octopus minor (Octopus variabilis) and others including conger-eel, and catches proportion was 60% of total catches weights. There was no big difference for the monthly catches. Self-consumption catches were 9 species including conger-eel below 35cm holding 50% of catches in the side of weights. There were 40% of bycatches for the catches weights and 63% for catches numbers in the 22mm mesh size of spring-net-pot having entrance round over 140mm. It showed that 50% of catches weights were discarded.