• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.258-268
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• 2024

We presented foundational findings regarding the occurrence and acoustic characteristics of the finless porpoise through passive acoustic and visual surveys conducted on the southern coast of Korea, specifically at Hadong Jungpyeong Port. Over a survey period spanning from July 8 to August 16, 2023, totaling 40 days, we observed peaks in the number of clicks produced by this species on July 15, July 24, August 4, August 11, and August 16. The highest count, totaling 18,924 clicks, was recorded on July 15th, while the lowest count, at 3,888 clicks, occurred on August 8th. Examining the acoustic characteristics throughout the diurnal cycle, we found that the peak activity in terms of DPM (detection positive minute for one hour), DP10M (DPM for ten minutes), and overall number of click sounds was observed between 05:00 and 08:00, with a secondary peak occurring from 17:00 to 18:00. The quietest period was noted between 23:00 and 02:00. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the number of clicks from sunrise, with the maximum count of 21,581 clicks recorded at 6 AM. This count gradually decreased until noon, experienced a slight increase thereafter, peaked again at sunset, and then declined. The dominant frequency mode of this species was 126 kHz, with a concentration ranging from 112 to 136 kHz. The average duration of a click sound was 127 ㎲, with approximately 16 sinusoids (cycles) within each click sound and an average cycle length of approximately 7.9 ㎲. These findings from our study are anticipated to serve as foundational data for the development of a Korean pinger and acoustic warning system.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.938-945
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• 2022

National Institute of Fisheries Science conducted a total of 39 sighting surveys for marine mammals over 624 sighting days that covered 20,771 nautical miles in Korean waters during 2011-2020. Marine mammals were detected when 83.9% of the marine environment was less than or equal to three on the Beaufort wind scale. Thirteen species of marine mammals were identified, including two species of pinniped, with a majority of cetacean species. Frequently found species were narrow-ridged finless porpoise, followed by common dolphin, minke whale, Dall's porpoise, and Pacific white-sided dolphin. Narrow-ridged finless porpoises and minke whales were located in and offshore around the Korean peninsula, common and Pacific white-sided dolphins were exclusively found in the East Sea for most seasons. The other marine mammals were spotted in some seas and for limited durations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2023

The United States enforces the seafood import regulations so-called the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and by 2023, all exports of aquatic products and processed fish products by fisheries which have not obtained an "Comparability Finding" from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be completely banned. Therefore, to respond to the US MMPA, it is critical to identify technologies and methods used in worldwide for reducing bycatch of marine mammals. In particular, marine mammals are frequently caught in five fisheries (trawl, gill net, trap, stow net and set net) in Korea, which is facing a great challenge. This study presented bycatch reduction methods by five fisheries, classified the methods by country, and suggested appropriate reduction methods which can be applied in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2010

Seagrass beds are a type of coastal wetland with many ecosystem services and precious economic values. Seagrass meadows used to be widespread along the coasts in northern Chinese seas, yet they have long been overlooked and lack devoted study on their history and status. This paper firstly reveals, by synthesis of information on composition of seagrass species and their distribution, that the seagrasses in this region have experienced considerable declines, both in terms of distribution and biomass, from the earliest record to present days. Then, a case study at the seagrass bed of Chudao is described to show the status of representative seagrass meadows. The results indicate that the environmental condition is good, seagrasses are in recovery, the planktoners are healthy and rich fishery resources and the mammal finless porpoise are associated with the seagrass bed. The cause(s) of historical seagrass decline and current conditions are also discussed, and future recommendations on seagrass protection and mapping are suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.452-468
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• 2012

Marine organisms were collected by the stow nets and the stow net on boat fisheries from April 2010 to November 2011 in the Han River Estuary and categorized as 126 species, 61 families, and 5 taxa. The species were consisted with 34 in Crustacea, 5 in Cephalopoda, 79 in Pisces, unidentified jellyfishes in Cnidaria, and Finless porpoise in Mammals. The major species were composed of fish and crustaceans in the Han River Estuary. The dominant species in Crustacea were Chinese ditch prawn (Palaemon gravieri), blue crab (Portunus trituberculatus), Ridgetail prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda), and mantis crab (Oratosquilla oratoria), and those in Pisces were Korean anchovy (Coilia nasus), and Japanese grenadier anchovy (Coilia mystus). The length structures of the six dominant species have more than one mode in the Han River Estuary. It reflects that the species inhibit during a part of and/or whole lifetime in the Han River Estuary where they utilize as spawning and/or nursery grounds. Freshwater fishes were collected from station D where is the closest location to the Han River stream, and their appearances were well matched with the large amount of freshwater discharge due to flood periods. Principal components analysis (PCA) was carried out with species compositions and showed temporal and spatial differences by the variations of species.