The objective of this study was to estimate physical properties and fishing performances of net twine with improved PBS copolymer resin (Bio-new), the existing PBS/PBAT blending resin (Bio-old) and commercial Nylon (Nylon). The tensile strength of Bio-new monofilament was equal to Bio-old and the elongation of Bio-new was about 6 % higher than that of Bio-old in wet condition. The physical properties tests were carried out to estimate breaking load and stiffness in dry and wet conditions, respectively. In the results, the breaking load of Nylon netting was the highest whereas the elongation of Bio-new was 1.4 times higher than that of Nylon netting in wet condition. The breaking load of Bio-old netting was about 9.2 % higher than that of Bio-new netting. However, the elongation of the Bio-new netting was about 3% higher than that of Bio-old. The stiffness of the Bio-new compared to Bio-old was improved about 34 % in dry condition and about 32 % in wet condition. The filed experiments of the fishing performance were conducted with three kinds of drift nets with different netting materials in the coastal sea of Jeju. The each experimental drift net made of different materials showed the similar fishing performance. Bio-old drift net yielded less catches of small sized yellow croaker than other drift nets. The netting materials affected the fishing performance and length distribution of catches in the drift nets.

Physical characteristics of PA (Polyamide) gill net and biodegradable gill net made by PBS (Polybutylene succinate) (mesh size 63mm, mesh thickness number 2, 2.5, 3) were analyzed to investigate catching efficiency of the biodegradable gill net for Pacific herring. Total 11 numbers of catching efficiency tests were carried out using commercial fishing vessel at Imwon port in Kangwon province from May to June 2013. The amount of catches were 1,535.7kg (18 species) through the catching efficiency tests and it is expected that the practicalization of biodegradable gillnet is possible because there is no difference for catches between PA gillnet and PBS gillnet. Catches of herring according to the thickness of net twine was the highest at No.2 and the thicker net twine tends to decrease the catches.

To study the catching efficiency of biodegradable trammel net for swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus), three types (biodegradable, monofilament and multifilament) of trammel nets were used in the field test, and the tests were carried out 16 times with two different mesh sizes (105mm and 160mm) in the Yeonpyeong fishing ground of Korea, 2009~2011. The catching efficiency of three type nets was analyzed by catch in number, catch in weight and average weight per individual of small and large size swimming crab by net types and mesh sizes. Statistical T-test was also carried out to verify the efficiency between the three types of nets. The results are as follows. The catch in number of swimming crab was 24,667 and formed about 81.0% of total catch. Of all swimming crab catch, small swimming crabs with less than 64mm in carapace length which is a prohibited landing size by law formed 48.1%, larger swimming crabs with more than 64mm in carapace length which is a landing size formed 51.9%. In 105mm mesh size trammel net test, the catch share in number of small size swimming crab by biodegradable trammel net was 47.5% in comparison with multifilament trammel net and 74.2% in comparison with monofilament trammel net, so biodegradable trammel net has more protective effects on small size swimming crab than other types of trammel nets. The protective effects for small size swimming crab by biodegradable trammel net was 25.8~52.5% in comparison with other types of trammel nets. The catch share in weight of large size swimming crab by biodegradable trammel net was 98.3% in comparison with multifilament trammel net and 92.3% in comparison with monofilament trammel net, so biodegradable trammel net has a similar catch efficiency to multifilament trammel net. The results of 160mm mesh size trammel net test have shown similar results of 105mm mesh size trammel net test. This study shows that biodegradable trammel net is a more useful fishing gear than multifilament and monofilament trammel net because biodegradable trammel net has lower catch rate than other types of nets in small size swimming crab and similar catch rate than multifilament trammel net which is a well used net by fishermen.

There are many studies of the biodegradable net for fishing to prevent marine pollution in Korea and the snow crab gill nets is developed effectively. Recently, the biodegradable gill net for fishes is being developed. This study is the experiment of the catch characteristics for the biodegradable flounder gill net. The 8 experiments were carried out using the nylon gill net and the biodegradable gill net in from August to October, 2011 in the southern East Sea. The results obtained from the above approaches are summarized as follows; A total of 16 species was caught with most dominant species of Cleisthenes pinetorum followed by Liparis tanakai, Glyptocephalus stelleri, Buccinum striatissimum and Dasycottus setiger. A total of catch of the nylon net was 342,885g and that of the biodegradable net was 236,857g. Thus catch of the nylon net was 1.45 times more than that of the biodegradable net. The length composition of Cleisthenes pinetorum, caught by the biodegradable net was very similar to that of nylon. As a result of analysis on the effect of submerged time, small fish escaped more easily than large fish as the submerged time is getting longer. And catches of the biodegradable net was less than the nylon net's as higher as wave height. Wave height was more influential factor for fishing capacity than submerged time based on the results of a comparison between catch difference of two kinds of gill nets and catch characteristics.

The main purpose of this study is to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) by the general publics, assuming that they pay tax or charge for protecting marine living resources and environment through developing and supplying biodegradable fishing nets. This study employed a contingent valuation method (CVM) which is an econometric method. The survey was conducted by using both double-bounded dichotomous choice and open-ended survey. Tobit model was used for the analysis. The variables included concerns about marine environment and fishing net discarded, sex, age profile, number of family members, educational level and personal disposable income. Annual average WTP per family for the biodegradable fishing net development and supply was estimated at 5,294 won and national WTP amounted to some 84.2 billion won. This includes both of use and non-use value of biodegradable fishing nets.

The main purpose of this research is to analyze economic feasibility of biodegradable sonw crab gill net model project. The results of benefit/cost analysis show that use of the biodegradable gear is economically feasible. Assuming that the rate of gill net lost is 5 percent, net present value was estimated 311,898,282-590,533,375won, benefit-cost ratio 1.816-1.923 and internal rate of return 7.96-10.59%. The development and diffusion of biodegradable fishing gear appear to make a significant contribution to fisheries resource conservation and marine ecosystem protection. In addition, biodegradable gear production firms may have a good opportunity of exporting it to other coastal states, depending on the progress of WTO subsidy negotiation.

In order to develop the biodegradable monofilament gill net for the protection of marine ecosystem and reduction of ghost fishing, enpol monofilament gill net was made for Chionoecetes opilio using polybutylene succinate as a biodegradable chip. Catching efficiency on 2 type monofilament gill net, PA and Enpol, were carried out using 2 commercial fishing boats around the fishing ground of Wang-dol rock from January 2004 to May 2006. Enpol monofilament gill net spun polybutylene succinate as a biodegradable chip was appeared high practicality for Chionoecetes opilio gill net. Target fishing ratio were 98% and 98.3% for the PA and enpol monfilament gill net, respectively. In addition, CPUE ratio of female and male(CL < 90mm) to Chionoecetes opilio caught in the enpol gill net were 25.3-40.3%, 14.0-22.1% less than PA gill net, respectively. However, CPUE ratio of male(CL > 90mm) to Chionoecetes opilio caught in the enpol gill net were 2.5-11.3% more than PA gill net. There was no difference in CPUE of female and male to Chionoecetes opilio caught using 2 gill nets as a result of the significance level of 5% by T-test.