Properties of aggregation and spatial distribution of fish in the South Sea of Korea using hydroacoustic data

수산음향기법의 주파수에 따른 남해안의 어류의 군집 및 공간분포 특징

Properties of aggregation and spatial distribution of fish were examined based on three lines in the South Sea of Korea using three frequencies (18, 38, and 120 kHz) of a scientific echosounder. The vertical distribution of fish was displayed using acoustic biomass namely nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC). As a result, at 120 kHz high NASC showed from water surface to 20 meters in deep while at 18 and 38 kHz very high NASC presented in 70 ~ 90 meters in depth, especially at line 3. Among three lines, the line 2 had lowest NASC. The horizontal distribution of fish using three frequencies together exhibited high NASC between the eastern South Sea and center of South Sea. In especial, NASC ($801{\sim}1,920m^2/n{\cdot}mile^2$) was observed along coastal waters from Busan to Tongyeong, Geoje, and Namhae. In regard with the property of aggregation of fish schools, the volume back-scattering strength ($S_V$) of three lines presented close each other, however, the range of $S_V$ in the line 2 was shortest (-53.5 ~ -43.4 dB). The average distributional depth was deep in the order of L3 ($32.8{\pm}9.0m$), L1 ($45.2{\pm}9.5m$), L2 ($49.7{\pm}5.6m$). The average altitude was high in the order of L3 ($13.4{\pm}10.3m$), L1 ($17.0{\pm}12.6m$), L2 ($56.7{\pm}5.6m$). The average length, thickness, and area were large in the order of L1, L3, and L2. This means that small sized fish schools were distributed near water surface in the line 2 while relatively large and similar sized fish aggregations between line 1 and line 3 appeared however, fish schools at line 3 had lower distributional depth and smaller compared to those at line 1. Acoustic data were visualized for demonstrating the entire circumstances of survey area. Additionally, there was no correlation between acoustic and trawl results.