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 .

Gut contents analysis is essential to predict the impact of organisms on food source changes due to variations of the habitat environment. Previous studies of gut content analysis have been conducted using traditional methods, such as visual observation. However, these studies are limited in analyzing food sources because of the digestive process in gut organ. DNA metabarcoding analysis is a useful method to analyze food sources by supplementing these limitations. We sampled marine fish of Pennahia argentata, Larimichthys polyactis, Crangon affinis, Loligo beka and Sepia officinalis from Gwangyang Bay and Yeosu fisheries market for analyzing gut contents by applying DNA metabarcoding analysis. 18S rRNA v9 primer was used for analyzing food source by DNA metabarcoding. Network and two-way clustering analyses characterized the relationship between organisms and food sources. As a result of comparing metabarcoding of gut contents for P. argentata between sampled from Gwangyang Bay and the fisheries market, fish and Copepoda were analyzed as common food sources. In addition, Decapoda and Copepoda were analyzed as common food sources for L. polyactis and C. affinis, respectively. Copepoda was analyzed as the primary food source for L. beka and S. officinalis. These study results demonstrated that gut contents analysis using DNA metabarcoding reflects diverse and detailed information of biological food sources in the aquatic environment. In addition, it will be possible to provide biological information in the gut to identify key food sources by applying it to the research on the food web in the ecosystem.

We investigated physicochemical properties and isotopic compositions of organic matter (δ13CTOC and δ15NTN) in the old fish farming (OFF) site after the cessation of aquaculture farming. Based on this approach, our objective is to determine the organic matter origin and their relative contributions preserved at sediments of fish farming. Temporal and spatial distribution of particulate and sinking organic matter (OFF sites: 2.0 to 3.3 mg L-1 for particulate matter concentration, 18.8 to 246.6 g m-2 day-1 for sinking organic matter rate, control sites: 2.0 to 3.5 mg L-1 for particulate matter concentration, 25.5 to 129.4 g m-2 day-1 for sinking organic matter rate) between both sites showed significant difference along seasonal precipitations. In contrast to variations of δ13CTOC and δ15NTN values at water columns, these isotopic compositions (OFF sites: -21.5‰ to - 20.4‰ for δ13CTOC, 6.0‰ to 7.6‰ for δ15NTN, control sites: - 21.6‰ to - 21.0‰ for δ13CTOC, 6.6‰ to 8.0‰ for δ15NTN) investigated at sediments have distinctive isotopic patterns (p<0.05) for seawater-derived nitrogen sources, indicating the increased input of aquaculture-derived sources (e.g., fish fecal). With respect to past fish farming activities, representative sources (e.g., fish fecal and algae) between both sites showed significant difference (p<0.05), confirming predominant contribution (55.9±4.6%) of fish fecal within OFF sites. Thus, our results may determine specific controlling factor for sustainable use of fish farming sites by estimating the discriminative contributions of organic matter between both sites.

In this study, trends in research methods and topics of seabird and marine fish migration were examined. Based on the framework of existing animal migration studies, future research directions were proposed in relation to the migration of seabirds and fish. In terms of research methodology, with the development of science and technology, tracking techniques using radio telemetry, acoustic telemetry, RFID (radiofrequency identification), satellite tracking, and geolocators are widely used to study seabird and fish migration. Research is also conducted indirectly through a population survey and the analysis of substances in the body. Research contents are largely classified into extrinsic factors that affect migration (such as environmental variables and interspecific competition), intrinsic factors such as hormones, anthropogenic activities including fishery and offshore wind farm, and the effect of global climate change. In future studies, physiological factors that influence or cause migration and dispersal should be identified concerning intrinsic factors. For the analysis of migration ability, it is necessary to study effects of changes in the magnetic field on the migration ability of seabirds and fish, interspecific differences in spatiotemporal migration ability, and factors that influence the migration success rate. Regarding extrinsic factors, research studies on effects of anthropogenic disturbances such as fishery and offshore wind farm and global climate change on the migration and dispersal patterns of marine animals are needed. Finally, integrated studies on the migration of seabirds and fish directly or indirectly affecting each other in various ecological aspects are required.

자연수계 수산생물의 전염병 모니터링은 자연수계 및 양식 수산생물의 질병 관련성 및 상관관계 구명은 질병 발생 예방 및 확산 방지에 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. 2018년 해구 64개소에서 어류 39종 977마리 및 갑각류 14종 287마리를 선정하여 총 1,264마리에 대하여 병원체 감염 여부를 조사하였다. 어류는 법정전염병 2종 (VHS, RSIVD) 및 비 법정전염병 3종 (MABVD, HRVD, LCD)을 분석하고 갑각류는 법정전염병 6종 (WSD, IHHN, TS, IMN, YHD, WTD) 을 분석하였다. 조사한 모든 시료에서 전염병이 검출되지 않았지만, 우리나라에서 조사한 자연수계 수산생물이 무병하여 청정국 또는 청정지위 선언에 중요한 정보를 제공 할 것이다.

Visual census and hydro-acoustic survey was carried out at Ulju small scale marine ranching area (MRA) to estimate demersal fish aggregations on September and November 2013. In this hydro-acoustic survey, the authors combined an image sonar with a scientific echo sounder to monitor an underwater situation and compare two acoustic data. Consequently, visual census survey was useful to estimate fish species composition for hydro-acoustic survey, because it is easy to identify aggregated fish species and overcome limits on a fishing depth and ability of an conventional fishing gear like a bottom gill-net or a fish trap at marine ranching area. Mean fish density was estimated as 0.757 g/m2 on September and 0.219 g/m2 on November and Fish abundance was finally calculated as 1.51ton (coefficient of variation, CV=13.1%) on September and 0.44ton (CV=47.7%) on November, respectively. Hydro-acoustic survey combined with the image sonar was useful to monitor fish aggregations and estimate fish stocks around artificial reefs at shallow coastal MRA. We were able to easily identify the underwater structures like an artificial reef and a fishing rope as well as fish aggregations from image sonar data. Therefore, the method was effective to separate unwanted echo signals in acoustic data of scientific echo sounder.

Hydro-acoustic survey was carried out to investigate the spatial characteristics of fish distribution near two artificial reefs (AO: large octagonal semi-sphere and AC: combined custom built) having different types in Jeju marine ranching area. The survey system consisted of scientific echo sounder (EK60), DGPS system, and ECDIS (Mecys). Field survey was conducted on August and October 2012 with star survey and line transect survey line method, and species composition was investigated from gill net fishing survey. The acoustic signals from individual fishes and small fish schools were mainly recorded around AO, but large and strong signals from large fish school were mainly detected in the top layer of and the water column near AC. The echogram suggest that the fish aggregation for the two types of AO and AC exist the significant difference in fish species and spatial distribution pattern.