Abstract
This study attempted to help determine Korean fishery policies by proposing improvement plans after examining the current regulations, fishing vessels, fishing gear and fishing methods of the middle sized trawl fishery in the East Sea for targeting only squid. In general, the size, engine horse power, and net length of the middle sized trawlers are between 50 and 60 GT, 1,200 and 1,600 PS, and approximately 165 m with four seamed trawl nets, respectively. While a jigging vessel attracted squids using lights, the trawler approached a jigging vessel. The trawler let the jigging vessel know its decision for fishing, and then jigging vessel rolled up jigs. The net of the trawler was casted at 45 degrees between the bow and the stern of the jigging vessel. Once the trawler towed close to the stern of the jigging vessel upon its passing of the jigging vessel, the bow of the trawler turned 45 degrees left again. Then, squid aggregations were entered into the net. When the cod end was passed a light vessel, the trawler hoisted the net up to the otter board. Then the trawler turned 180 degrees. It repeated three to five times of fishing operations as the previous method. We recommend that the regulations allow nineteen side trawlers to catch like stern trawler, as well as the cooperative trawler and jigging vessel operations.
