• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2012

Sik-hae is traditional Korean fermented seafood manufactured by mixing ingredients such as fish, radish, garlic, pepper, etc. To facilitate utilization of the black-edged sculpin Gymnocanthus herzensteini, which is an abundant unusable fish caught in the East Sea, sculpin sik-hae was developed for commercialization as a low-salt fermented food. There was no significant change in the proximate composition of the sculpin sik-hae during storage. The pH of the sculpin sik-hae decreased, whereas the acidity, amino-N, and volatile basic nitrogen contents increased as fermentation progressed. The number of microflora increased gradually up to 14 days of fermentation and then decreased. Based on a sensory evaluation, sculpin sik-hae stored at $-1^{\circ}C$ was superior to that stored at $5^{\circ}C$. Therefore, sculpin sik-hae can be commercialized as a new fermented seafood.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2013

The feeding habits of the black-edged sculpin Gymnocanthus herzensteini were studied using 944 specimens collected from February 2011 to January 2012 in the coastal waters off Mukho, Gangwondo, Korea. The G. herzensteini ranged from 11.8 to 36.3 cm in total length (TL). The percentage of empty stomachs in G. herzensteini was 40.2%, and the main prey items were Pisces, Euphausiasea, and Macrura. The smallest size group (11.8-15.0 cm TL) consumed mainly Polychaeta and Amphipoda. The quantity of prey increased in proportion to sculpin size. The composition of prey items and feeding habits of G. herzensteini exhibited seasonal fluctuations, that is, the main prey items during spring were Euphausiasea, whereas those during other seasons were Pisces.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2007

We investigated the maturity and spawning of black edged sculpin, Gymnocanthus herzensteini caught by gillnet in the East Sea from March 2003 to February, 2004. We analyzed monthly changes in maturity stages, gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad weight (GW), egg diameter, fecundity, total length at 50% group maturity and sex ratio. The spawning period was December to February. The fecundity ranged form 8,814 eggs at 14.7 cm (TL) to 25,560 eggs at 24.4 cm (TL). The relationship between total length (TL) and fecundity (F) was $F=285.11TL^{1.4092}$ ($R^2$ =0.571) and fecundity increased with total length. The total length at 50% group maturity was estimated to be 15.25 cm. The sex ratio was 60 for female and 40 for male, where the female population was seen to be slightly predominant. For sex ratio by length class, male was a little predominant in small size, but female was 90% more than 24 cm.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2015

Antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins [AF(G)Ps] constitute a group of proteins that lower the freezing but not the melting points of aqueous solutions, enabling polar and north-temperate fish to survive in ice-laden environments. However, little is known about antifreeze activity in temperate fish; such work would extend our knowledge on the functions and evolution of AF(G)Ps. In the present study, we screened for antifreeze activity in temperate fish caught off the coast of Jumunjin ($37.89^{\circ}N$), Gangneung, Korea. Thermal hysteresis (TH) and the ability to inhibit ice recrystallization (IR) in blood, liver, and muscle samples from nine fish were examined to assess antifreeze activity. As the East Sea off the coast of Jumunjin is ice-free year round, we thought it most unlikely that the fish would express antifreeze proteins. Surprisingly, the blood of Pleurogrammus azonus and three types of tissue from Gymnocanthus herzensteini, Zoarces gilli and Kareius bicoloratus exhibited measurable TH values together with the ability to trigger characteristic morphological changes in ice crystals. Blood samples from the three species also evidenced ice recrystallization (IR) inhibition. This implies that AF(G)Ps or other antifreeze-like substances are present in temperate fish even under nonfreezing conditions. These results contribute to our understanding of the functions and origins of antifreeze activity in fish.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2018

The temporal and depth-related variations in the species composition and abundance of demersal fish assemblage were studied in the coastal waters off Hupo, East Sea. Fish samples were collected seasonally between 2011 and 2017 at two stations of study area using trammel net and bottom gill net. In total, 46 fish species belonging to 17 families were collected during study period, with 36 and 22 species occurring in depths of ~80 m (site A) and ~140 m (site B), respectively. Glyptocephalus stelleri, Cleisthenes pinetorum and Gymnocanthus herzensteini were abundant at shallower site, and Dasycottus setiger at deeper site. The number of species, abundance, biomass and diversity fluctuated with water depth, but not temporally (both seasonally and annually). Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) revealed that the fish assemblage structures were significantly different with water depth, but not by year or season. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination plot emphasized visually in spatial difference of fish assemblages, and it was due to differential contributions of dominant species in relation to water depth and temperature.