In order to understand characteristics on bycatch of Korean tuna purse seine fishery, especially operations associated with Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) in the Indian Ocean, we conducted analyses related to bycatch by school association type (unassociated school, FAD associated school and log associated school) using the data collected by scientific observers from 2016 to 2018. The FAD used by Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Indian Ocean was a drifting FAD, which belongs to non-entangling FADs according to the category proposed by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). The target species of Korean tuna purse seine fishery are skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tunas, accounting for 99% of the total catch. The ratio of bycatch was 0.97% in total catch and the discard accounted for less than 1%, indicating that most catch was retained on board. In terms of bycatch ratio by school association type, it accounted for 0.12% for unassociated school, 1.09% for FAD associated school and 1.25% for log associated school. As for the catch proportion of shark species by school association type, it accounted for 0.01% for unassociated school, 0.11% for FAD associated school and 0.10% for log associated school, which showed that unassociated school type was the lowest to affect bycatch of non-target and shark species. Given the proportion of bycatch compositions, however, it is considered that FAD associated school of Korean tuna purse seine fishery has less caught bycatch species of non-target and shark, compared to other fleets operating in the Indian Ocean.

In the previous study, a shooting trajectory assuming that the purse seine shooting trajectory is a circle was proposed based on the speed and direction of the movement of the fish school. However, in practice, a trajectory that is closer to an elliptical shape than a circular one is often formed. In this study, the existing circular trajectory and the elliptical trajectory methods were compared under the same conditions to confirm the effectiveness of elliptical shooting trajectory. In addition, changes in the eccentricity of ellipses were derived to assess which type of ellipse was appropriate as a shooting trajectory. When a high-speed fish school moves in a straight line, an elliptical shooting trajectory with the eccentricity of 0.7 to 0.9 will be reasonable, and for middle-low speed fish school, an elliptical shooting trajectory with the eccentricity of 0.4 to 0.6 will be more useful than a circle shooting trajectory.

Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) has been mostly caught by the Korean offshore large purse seine fishery in Korean waters. The annual catch of Pacific bluefin tuna caught by the offshore large purse seine fishery in Korean waters showed less than 1,000 mt until the 1990s except for 1997. The catch sharply increased to 2,401 mt in 2000 and recorded the highest of 2,601 mt in 2003, but the catch has generally decreased with a fluctuation thereafter. The main fishing ground of Pacific bluefin tuna of this fishery is formed around Jeju Island. However, it expanded to the Yellow Sea, the coastal of Busan, and the East Sea, which depends on the migration patterns of Pacific bluefin tuna by season. The CPUE standardization of Pacific bluefin tuna was conducted using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to assess the proxy of the abundance index. The data used for the GLM were catch (weight), effort (number of hauls), catch ratio of Pacific bluefin tuna, moon phase by year, quarter and area. The standardized CPUE from 2004 to 2011, except for 2003 and 2010, showed a steady trend, and then increased until 2014. The CPUE in 2015 decreased, and in 2016 was higher than that in 2015. The result of GLM suggests that the effect of the catch ratio of Pacific bluefin tuna is the largest factor affecting the nominal CPUE.

The WCPFC CMMs related to tropical tunas have been strongly restricting fishing capacity and operating activities of main fisheries, especially purse seine fishery. In terms of changes in fishing trend by implementing relevant measures of FAD set, the number of FAD set by Korean purse seine fleet showed a decreasing pattern with the lowest level of FAD set proportion among major distant water fishing nations. With regards to the FAD closure, there was no significant change in fishing effort but a drop in catch, especially bigeye tuna during the period of FAD closure. Moreover, it showed closely similar trends between the number of FAD set and bigeye tuna catch. In terms of measures related to the high sea area including a ban on fishing on the HSP and limitation of fishing days on the high sea by flag state, proportions of catch and effort on the high sea had sharply declined after implementing those measures. As relevant measures are expected to be strengthened, it should pay attention to change of coastal nations policies and focus on improving fishing efficiency of unassociated school set with multi-pronged efforts.

Fishing characteristics of Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Pacific Ocean were investigated using logbook data compiled from captain onboard and the statistical data from 1980 to 2014. Changes in fishing ground and correlation between marine environmental factors and fishing patterns were investigated using Oceanographic index. The proportion of unassociated set was higher than that of associated set. The catch proportion of yellowfin was higher in the unassociated set, while that of skipjack and bigeye was higher in the associated set. Due to vessels, fishing gears and Korean captains’ high-level of skills in fishing technology optimized for the unassociated set and preference of large fishes, especially large yellowfin tuna, it showed unique fishing characteristics focusing on the unassociated set. As for fishing distributions of Korean tuna purse seine fishery and impacts of oceanographic conditions on the fishery, the main fishing ground was concentrated on the area of 5°N~10°S, 140°E~180° through the decades. When stronger El-nino occurred, the range of fishing ground tended to expand and main fishing ground moved to the eastern part of western and central Pacific Ocean. During this season, yellowfin tuna had high CPUE and catch proportion of yellowfin tuna in the eastern part also increased. As for the proportion of fishing effort by set type, proportion of log associated set was high during El-nino season while that of FAD associated set was high during La-nina season.

In this study, numerical method was used to assess technical properties and improve the Vietnamese tuna purse seine. Thedata were extracted from the two national level projects. The study results showed that average lead-line sinking speed reached 0.139 m/s and 0.143 m/s and maximum sinking depth was 61.6 m and 65.8 m for The gears 2003 and 2014 respectively. The maximum tension on ring line of The gear 2003 was 4,742 kgf and 2014 was 4,219 kgf. The improved tuna purse seines I, III and IV showed similar sinking speed results with 0.220 m/s, 0.219 m/s and 0.219 m/s respectively. The average lead-line sinking speed of the improved gear II was lowest with 0.215 m/s. The maximum lead-line sinking depth of the four improved gears I, II, III and IV were 116 m, 112 m, 115 m and 114.9 m respectively. Maximum tension on ring line of the improved gears I, II, III and IV were 5,657 kgf, 5,406 kgf, 5,645 kgf and 5,654 kgf respectively. The improved tuna purse seine IV is the most suitable for Vietnamese tuna purse seine fishery, Which corresponds with tuna purse seiner scale and its fishing supporting equipment at the present.

Fishing trend and characteristics of Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Pacific Ocean were investigated using logbook data compiled from captain onboard and the statistical data from 1980 to 2013. The historical catch of this fishery had sharply increased since mid–1980s, and it has shown fluctuations with about 2–3 hundred thousands, whereas the catch per number of vessel has steadily increased with fluctuations since commencing this fishery. As for the proportion of catch by set type, unassociated type had increased from the mid–1980s to the end of 1990s, and then has decreased up to 2010s. Associated type had decreased continually to the end of 1990s, however, it started to increase since the beginning of 2000s. As for the catch proportion of set type by main species, those of skipjack tuna and bigeye tuna showed higher in the associated type, whereas that of yellowfin tuna has the highest proportion in the unassociated type. Fishing distribution of Korean tuna purse seine fishery was concentrated on the area of 5°N~10°S and 140°E~180° through the decades. The monthly catch distribution by longitudinal zone of Korean tuna purse seine fishery expanded the most further to the eastward in September to October.

This paper conducted research on identifying the process of change in fishing gear and organizing the function of periodically-used fishing gear types through net plan and computer simulation by selecting the design of the four types of fishing gear used for the Korea tuna purse seiner in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which 1,000 G/T class and whose length over all 60 m class. In the late 1980s, the length of the tuna purse gear was 1,939 m and the design depth was 160 m, but currently, the length and the design depth are 2,515 m and 230 m, respectively. As a result of the simulation, the expansion of the fishing gear increased buoyance, sinking force, sinking depth, surrounded area, and purse wire continuously. Recently, the maximum tension of the currently used purse wire of tuna purse seiner is 23.5 tons and is close to 25.4 tons which is the maximum lift capacity of WS454 winch. The way to improve fishing gear should be proceeded to increase sinking speed rather than expand the size of fishing gear.

This paper summarizes characteristics of the Korean tuna purse seine fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). Major fishing area for the Korean tuna purse seine fleet consisted of the waters of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and adjacent high seas between 130˚E-180˚ The center of the Korean tuna fishing ground was in the vicinity of 180˚ during the El - Niño event but was formed in 150˚-160˚E during the La - Niño event. As compared with other major purse seine fleets in WCPO, the Korean fleet set more on unassociated schools of tuna, while Japan, USA and Chinese - Taipei fleets accounted for more than 50% of sets on log - associated schools. In general, CPUES for log - associated schools were higher than those for unassociated schools and catch composition showed that yellowfin ratio was higher in unassociated shools than log - associated schools. Length frequency represented higher percentage of mid - sized yellowfin than Japanese and USA fleets. Daily set numbers and CPUE were high before 7 am and remained almost constant from 7 am to 3 pm but decreased rapidly after 3 pm and 5 pm, respectively. Catch composition per set indicated that pure skipjack school was caught most frequently, followed by mixed school and pure yellowfin school as the least, but CPUE was highest for the mixed school.

Specificity of catches has been analyzed to japanese tuna purse seine A principle component analysis was used to improve the efficiency of fishing and increase sustainable production and productivity of Korean tuna purse seine.The result are as follows;From the principal component analysis of the fish catches, the first principal component(Z1) to promote principal component score was skipjack Kastsuwonus Pelamis, LINNAEUS and yellowfin tuna Thunnus Albacares, BONNATERRE (Small : smaller than 10kg) and proportion was 86.8% of total. The second principal component(Z2) to increase principal component score was yellowfin tuna (Large : larger than 10kg) and proportion was 9.5%.On the other hand, fish operating that have caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna (Small and Larger) was not so much. Fish catches for one species raised volume of the catches while catches for multi-species decreased it since principal composition score for one species and both species together has been increased.Fish school could be divided into three groups of schools each of which was associated with drift objects, payaho and ship, school associated with shark, whale and porpoise and school of breezing, feeding and jumping from proportion of principal component analysis for fish catches of school types. However, the biological pattern is different among school associated with ship, payaho and school associated with drift objects for analysis eigen vector. School associated with ship, payaho and school associated with drifting object associated is judged as school which be assembled to vessel and drifted log temporary.

It was investigated that the condition of fishing ground gave what kind of effect school type in relation to the property for the target school after the vertical temperature profile and school type were observed when tuna purse seiner for tuna purse seine was operated in the western pacific Ocean around the equator between December 12, 1993 and January 26, 1994. The results are as follows;1. This study divided fish schools associated with drift objects, a one targeted-operation, and the pelagic migrating fish schools that are another one for the property. The total of 23 operations were complected including 6 that targeted fish schools associated with drift objects and 17 that targeted pelagic migrating fish schools. It was known that the main operation was conducted on pelagic migrating fish school.2. Average and standard deviation of the depth of the surface mixing layer was 86.0m and 13.8m for fish schools associated with drift objects. 61.6m and 13.0m for pelagic migrating fish schools, respectively. The average depth of the surface mixing layer of the pelagic migrating fish schools was lower when compared to the fish schools associated with drift objects however the concentration of standard deviation was higher than those fish schools associated with drifted objects. Accordingly, it was assumed that the effect of vertical temperature profile for pelagic migrating fish school was higher than the fish schools associated with drift objects.

Temperal and spacial analysis for catches have been drawing up a catch distribution chart and analysing catches and CPUE(Catch Per Unit Effort) using catch data with purpose of obtaining basic data to establish a selective method of effective fishing the tuna purse seine fishing ground.The temperature profile section and catch was surveyed to analyse the effect of catch in relation to the fishing ground environment.The results are as follows ;1. As for the catch variation between 1983 and 1984, the catch mainly took place on150˚E, and after that it moved eastward enlarging the range of catch. In the monthly catch variation between January and February, the catches mainly happened on 135˚~ 150˚E, and then moved to the gradually westward. However, from July it moved to the South and from October Southeast.2. As to the eatch ratio for the school associated with the drifted object, the pelagic migrating school and the school associated with the biological objects, the catch ratio for the school associated with the drift objects was the highest. The catch ratio for the school associated with the drifted object was high in June, July and November whiles between January and March for the pelagic migrating school.3. SST(Sea Surface Temperature) was around 28~29〈/TEX〉C〈/TEX〉 on the observing line of 137˚E〈/TEX〉 and the catches took place in the north equatorial counter-current situated on around 5˚~6˚N. SST in the northern summer was 1〈/TEX〉C〈/TEX〉higher than winter and it was about 29~30〈/TEX〉C〈/TEX〉. The catch happened with the center of north equatorial counter-current. The reason why the catch mainly took place on the north equatorial counter-current is that main catch of tuna purse seine was the school associated with drift objects. It is thought that the fishing grounds are made in waters that have many drift objects like drift logs from the coast.