• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.897-914
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• 2010

The translog cost function of Korean Walleye pollock fishery is used to examine the impact of surface water temperature change led by global climate change. Catched of walleye pollock are very sensitive to water temperature and material cost. Elasticities of production to water temperature are -9%, significantly lower than we expected. There may be alternative explanations for the productivity decrease, including the possibility of overfishing and water pollution. However, the impact of climate change is obvious and inevitable. Therefore the government may encourage local fishermen to change from current cold water to warm water fisheries. Moreover continuos monitoring for the possibility of illegal activities at the East Sea. Finally, collaborated political efforts may be needed among the nations in the East Sea to conserve a Walleye Pollock fishery.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 1993

Results comparing the scale and otolith ages for walleye pollock from the Donut Hole of the Bering Sea showed a significant discrepancy for fish older than 8 years old. For walleye pollock from the Shelikof Strait of the Gulf of Alaska, comparison between ages determined from the scale and otolith readings indicated that there were no differences for younger age groups, but for the ages 6 and older, discrepancies squeezed in somewhat amid the same age groups.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.249-258
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• 2008

Oxygen isotopic composition(${\delta}^{18}O$) of walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, otoliths were measured to investigate interannual and regional correlation with habitat temperature. Specimens were collected from fishermen in Korea and Japan between $1997{\sim}1999$, while seawater temperatures were obtained from Korean and Japanese Oceanographic Data Centers. Seawater temperature was generally lower off the eastern Korean Peninsula than off eastern Hokkaido(Japan). Sagittal otoliths were removed for measurement of ${\delta}^{18}O$ using a micro-drilling technique. In most cases, ${\delta}^{18}O$ and habitat temperature exhibited negative relationship in Korean and Japanese waters. Higher ${\delta}^{18}O$ was observed in Korean pollock compared to Japanese pollock. The marginal parts of otoliths exhibited higher ${\delta}^{18}O$ than cores from both regions. This is an indication that somatic growth of walleye pollock occurs in deeper and cooler waters. Interannual variation in ${\delta}^{18}O$ was also observed. Mean ${\delta}^{18}O$ values acquired from 1997 otoliths were lower(2.15%) than those of 1998(2.67%) and 1999 (2.65%) in Korean pollock. These measurements coincided with changes in observed temperature in Korean waters, in which mean seawater temperature was warmer in 1997 than in 1998 and 1999. In Japanese waters, mean seawater temperature was lowest in 1997, which coincided with highest ${\delta}^{18}O$ values in the same year.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2018

We previously monitored nervous necrosis virus (NNV) in brain samples of artificially produced walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) seedlings, with a low prevalence (1.8%, 1/55) but no clinical symptoms. Given that this virus is considered one of the most serious viral threats for almost all marine aquaculture fish species and characterized by both vertical and horizontal transmission, it would be interesting to monitor NNV in the fertilized eggs as well. We collected fertilized walleye pollock eggs from the farms located in Goseong during January to March, 2017. Approximately 50 mg of eggs were periodically taken from 4 each different batches, and 37 different pooled sample sets in total were made during sampling period. RNA was extracted from the eggs by using Trizol and cDNA was synthesized for RT-PCR for detecting NNV. Primers and PCR conditions are the same as previously described. As a result, NNV was not detected from any of the sample sets by one step PCR (0%, 0/37), suggesting NNV may not be a threat in walleye pollock aquaculture in Korea at present time. However, continuous monitoring for NNV should be conducted because introducing a new species into aquaculture industry involves potentials of disease outbreak and NNV is already known to cause outbreaks in gadoid fishes.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2017

Since the late 1990s, walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus fisheries in Korean waters have been considered collapsed. Although many fisheries scientists suspect that the collapse might have been triggered by overexploitation of juvenile pollock or environmental changes, such conjectures have been neither tested nor investigated, partially because of limited data on the population. There has been no survey of the population, and the ages of fish in fishery catch have rarely been identified. Instead, fishery catch data from 1975-1997 included information about two life stages, 'juveniles and adults,' and data on catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) during 1963-2007 and those on fish length and weight during 1965-2003 had been sporadically collected from commercial fisheries. To test hypotheses about the collapse of the pollock fisheries, we used a statistical linear model with juvenile CPUE as the response variable, and abiotic (e.g., water temperatures) and biotic factors [e.g., adult pollock, flatfishes (Pleuronectidae sp.), and sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus) CPUEs] as the explanatory variables. The model results indicated that depletion of the pollock population was associated with both biotic (adult pollock and flatfishes abundance) and abiotic factors (mid-water temperatures in February and October). We further interpreted the results from ecological and biological perspectives, suggesting possible mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.148-159
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• 2020

This study investigated the seasonal and inter-annual changes in vertical distribution and size spectrum of walleye pollock, Gadus chalcogrammus inhabiting middle eastern coast of Korea (hear after pollock). Pollock was distributed between 50 m and 600 m depth range, and body size (total length) ranged from 16.6 cm to 81.5 cm. The trends of population body size were increased in autumn and winter and decreased in spring and summer. Vertical distribution of pollock showned depth-dependent patterns with distributing smaller individuals mainly in the upper layer (shallower depth), while larger fish in deeper habitats. Those patterns in vertical distribution of pollock population is probably due to be the results of energy-saving strategy, metabolic effects, and changes in prey selections according to pollock growth, derived from spatial and temporal changes in oceanic condition in habitat grounds. When water temperature in upper layer were increased and that of below thermocline depth became decreased in 2017, the ratio of smaller (<35 cm) and larger (≥35 cm) individuals was biased toward larger fishes, extending their distribution into shallow depth, and consequently main fishing ground was formed in far from coastal area. In addition, the ratio of smaller individual distributing between 100~300 m was increased with decreasing temperature gradient between below thermocline and bottom layer. Changes in spatial and temporal distributions of pollock population likely be related with vertical and horizontal changes in oceanic conditions and, consequently food supplies.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 2019

We performed MLSA (multilocus sequence analysis) and phenotypic characterization of Aliivibrio species isolated from walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) maintained in 3 different facilities of Gangwon Province, the east coast of Korea. Of 38 Aliivibrio species identified by 16S rDNA sequences, 12 strains were randomly selected and MLSA was conducted with 5 house-keeping genes (gapA, gyrB, pyrH, recA and rpoA) and 16S rDNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis and homology of the concatenated sequences (4,580 bp) with other Vibrionaceae genera revealed that 4 strains (GNGc16.1, YYGc16.1, YYGc16.2, GSGc18.1) were identified as Aliivibrio logei and one strain (GSGc16.1) as A. wodanis. One strain (GSGc17.1) was tentatively identified as A. logei, but needs further analysis because it did not belong to the same clade with A. logei type strain. 6 strains (GSGc17.2, GNGc16.2, GSGc16.2, GSGc17.3, GSGc18.2, GSGc17.4) need further investigation as potential novel species. Either phenotypic characterization or 16S rDNA sequence alone did not provide enough information for identification of Aliivibrio strains at the species level. A. logei and A. wodanis are generally known as non-pathogenic bacteria, but also known as opportunistic or secondary pathogens of cold water fishes. Cares should be taken to prevent potential outbreaks due to these bacteria, although there was no outbreaks during the sampling period.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.425-438
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• 1990

Acoustic and ichthyoplankton data collected from Shelikof Strait in 1981, 1984 and 1985 were examined to determine spawning ground and period of walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma. Walleye pollock in the Gulf of Alaska migrated into Shelikof Strait for spawning during late winter and early spring. They entered Shelikof Strait via the warm and saline deep layer (continental slope water mass) in the southwestern channel, and major fish schools concentrated for spawning along the deep trough (250~300m) in the western part of the central strait. Peak spawning activity occurred there from late March to early April. Peak spawning time and area in Shelikof Strait varied little between years, despite difference in hydrography. Geographical advantages together with some oceanographic phenomena (reduced water transport and reduced mixed layer depth in spring) made that area an optimal spawning ground in the Gulf of Alaska during early April. After early April, spawning intensity decreased rapidly and the spawning area tended to expand to the northeast and southwest.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

This study was conducted to monitor the prevalence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), nervous necrosis virus (NNV) and marine birnavirus (MABV) in cultured walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus by RT-PCR. All of the viruses tested were not detected by one-step PCR in 62 spleen sample sets, except for NNV in one brain sample set (1/55). By two-step PCR, VHSV was detected in 51.6%(32/62) and NNV was detected in 1.6%(1/62) spleen sample set, but MABV was not detected. In the brain sample sets, the detection rate of NNV was 3.6%(2/55). VHSV and NNV were detected for the first time in cultured walleye pollock in this study. However, the titers of viruses in these sample sets are thought to be very low, because most of the positive sample sets were detected by two-step PCR and none of the fish showed any clinical symptoms of each virus. Continuous monitoring, subsequent virus isolation and validation of carrier fish will be necessary.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

Wild walleye pollock were caught from Goseong, The East Sea of Korea and examined for the existence of several fish pathogenic viruses; viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), nervous necrosis virus (NNV) and marine birnavirus (MABV). We collected 1,253 wild walleye pollock in total during February 2015 and August 2018. 324 spleen sample sets and 259 brain sample sets were made, and examined for the existence of the viruses mentioned above by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). None of the target viruses were detected by one-step PCR. When some of these samples were further examined by two-step PCR, 19.7% (36/183) of spleen sample sets were positive for VHSV, and 4.4% (8/183) of spleen sample sets and 1.2% (3/259) of brain sample sets were positive for NNV. The target sequences of these viruses were clustered with those previously reported in Korea (Genotype IVa of VHSV, RGNNV genotype of NNV) by phylogenetic analysis. The activity of these viruses are not clear because virus isolation was not attempted, but probably very low because all the positive samples were detected by two-step PCR.