• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.22-33
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• 2009

Ecological risk assessment(ERA), developed in Australia, can be used to estimate the risk of target, bycatch and protected species from the effects of fishing using limited data for stock assessment. In this study, we employed the ERA approach to estimate risks to tunas, billfishes, sharks, sea turtles and other species by the Korean tuna longline fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean using productivity and susceptibility analyses of the ERA based on low(<1.30), medium(1.30-1.84) and high risk(>1.84). Albacore, bigeye, yellowfin, skipjack and bluefin tunas were generally evaluated in the medium risk. The susceptibility of tuna species, however, had higher risks than the productivity. Billfishes were also at medium risk, while sharks were at high risk by the tuna longline fishery. The risk of productivity was generally high, because most sharks caught by the tuna longline fishery have high longevities, i.e., over 10 years, including ovoviviparous species. Susceptibility, which is related with the selection of fishing gear, was also high, because the longline fishery has no gear modifications to prevent bycatch of protected species. Not only target tuna species were influenced by the tuna longline fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, but also nontarget species, such as pomfret, mackerels rays, sea turtle were done. Ecosystem-based fishery assessment tools, such as productivity and susceptibility analysis(PSA), have the ability to provide broad scientific advice to the policy makers and stakeholders.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.286-297
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• 2018

We analyzed scientific observer data to identify species composition and catch trends of Korean tuna longline fisheries in the Indian Ocean. The data were collected by Korean scientific observers onboard Korean tuna longline fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean from 2010 to 2015. The observers identified 94 species including 5 tuna, 6 billfish, 11 shark, 7 other fish, 5 seabird and 1 sea turtle. Albacore tuna Thunnus alalunga and southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyii were the dominant tuna species, and swordfish Xiphias gladius were the most commonly captured billfish. During the survey periods, 87 seabirds were incidentally bycaught. Black-browed albatross Diomedea melanophris was the dominant seabird species in bycatch, especially in 2010. Cluster analysis showed difference in the species composition of catches between the eastern and western Indian Ocean.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.17-31
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to identify economic situation on scale of tuna distant longline fishery by analyzing its economies of scale using the cost function. To analyze its economics of scale, the deep-sea fishing statistics were used from 2012 to 2016. In detail, the number of panels for estimating the cost function was 68 tuna distant longline vessels from 2012 to 2016, and the total number of observations over the five years were 340. As a final model, the two-way fixed effect model based on the translog cost function was adopted through the F test, the Breusch-Pagan test and the Hausman test. As a result of the analysis, it was found that tuna distant longline fishery between 2012 and 2014 was diseconomies of scale, the fishery between 2015 and 2016 was economies of scale. However, the economic indicators of the scale from 2012 to 2016 were almost close to zero, indicating that the constant returns to scale, the optimal scale, were reached. Therefore, in the situation where the amount of fishery resources in the world continues to decrease, it is necessary to prepare a method to obtain economic benefits through scale maintenance and reduction rather than indiscriminate scale expansion.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 1989

Yellowfin and bigeye tunas have been targeting and the most important species for the Korean tuna longline fishery in the Indian Ocean. This study is aimed to analyse the fishing efficiency of the regular and the deep longlines and the vortical distribution of tunas, and the weight composition by fishing depth based on the data from Korean tuna longline fishery from 1973 to 1980 and from 1984 to 1986 in the Indian Ocean. It was found that the deep longline gear on bigeye tuna was significantly different from the regular longline gear on yellowfin tuna in the whole Indian Ocean. Yellowfin tuna and billfishes were chiefly distributed at the shallow layer and bigeye at the deep layer. The weight composition of yellowfin and bigeye tunas by depth showed that the deeper the depth, the larger the bigeye distributed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2017

In pelagic longline, deploying the gear such that the depth of the hook is the same as that of the target fish is important to improve the fishing performance and selectivity. In this study, the depth of the tuna longline hook was estimated using the mass-spring model, catenary curve method, and secretariat of the pacific commission Pythagorean method in order to improve the performance of the longline gear in Fiji. The former two methods were estimated to be relatively accurate, and the latter showed a large error. Further, the mass-spring model accounted for the influence of tidal current in the ocean, which was found to be appropriate for use in field trials.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2005

The horizontal and vertical distribution of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) and bigeye tuna, Tunnus obesus (Lowe) in relation to oceanic conditions such as thermal structure produced during El Nino/La Nina episodes were analyzed on the basis of data sets for the catches and efforts from the Korean tuna longline fishery and for the oceanographic observations from the NOAA during 1982-2002 in the tropical Pacific. The high density of fishing ground appeared in the western Pacific ($5^{\circ}N-5^{\circ}S,\;160^{\circ}E-180^{\circ}W$) for yellowfin tuna and in the eastern Pacific ($5^{\circ}N-15^{\circ}S,\;130^{\circ}W-100^{\circ}W$) for bigeye tuna. yellowfin and bigeye tunas were mainly distributed at the 110-250 m layer and 245-312 m layer, respectively, in the western Pacific. However, in the eastern Pacific, they were mostly caught at the 116-161 m and 205-276 m layer for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, respectively. It can be suggested that bigeye tuna be distributed in the deepest layer among tunas and show a vertical size stratification. It was observed that during the El Nino events the main fishing ground of yellowfin tuna shifted from the western Pacific toward the eastern Pacific. In the eastern Pacific which showed a higher density of bigeye tuna, the vulnerability of bigeye tuna caught by deep longline increased during the El Nino events due to deepening of thermocline layer and a more intensively distribution of the fish schools in the lower layer of thermocline during the El Nino events.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.556-566
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• 2014

Korean distant water tuna longline fishery commenced in 1966 in the Atlantic Ocean. Since then, it has become one of the most important fisheries of Korea. By early of 1970s, total amount of tuna caught in the Atlantic Ocean was the highest among other Korean distant water tuna fisheries, but has become minor since 1990s. The annual catch of tuna and tuna-like species by Korean tuna longline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean was about 1,900 mt in 2013. Bigeye tuna was the predominant species in species composition followed by yellowfin tuna, Albacore tuna, Blue shark and Swordfish. Korean distant water tuna longline fishery have mainly operated in the tropical area of the Atlantic Ocean ($20^{\circ}N{\sim}20^{\circ}S$, $20^{\circ}E{\sim}60^{\circ}W$), fishing ground was almost similar as in the previous years. The length frequency of major species (Bigeye tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Albacore tuna, Blue shark and Swordfish) were estimated. As the result of length (size) frequency data on main species caught by lonline fishery in the Atlantic Ocean, main length intervals of bigeye tuna caught in 2011, 2012 and 2013 were 120~125 cm, 160~165 cm and 130~135 cm, respectively. For yellowfin tuna, those were 125~130 cm, 150~155 cm, 145~150 cm and for albacore, 109 cm, 102 cm, 109 cm and 106 cm respectively. For swordfish caught in 2011, 2012 and 2013, main length intervals were 130~135 cm, 125~135 cm and 125~130 cm, respectively, and for blue shark, 195~200 cm in 2011 and 185~190 cm in 2012, 2013.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.589-600
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• 2022

Longline fishery targeting tunas and tuna-like species is known to produce a significant amount of catch not only for the target species, but also for ecologically related species like sharks, marine turtles, sea birds and marine mammals. Recognizing this seriousness, tuna related regional fisheries management organizations (t-RFMOs) have established conservation and management measures (CMMs) to reduce bycatch and/or interaction with ecosystem vulnerable species including sea turtles and are obliged to implement bycatch mitigation measures and guidelines on safe release to their member countries. Along with development and strengthening of those measures, various case studies have been conducting to verify the effectiveness of bycatch mitigation for ecologically related species. This study examines the background and progress on developing CMMs of t-RFMOs and regulation programs of the United States related to sea turtles, which have recently become one of the main issues, and reviews case studies on sea turtle bycatch mitigation measures to find out the effectiveness of reducing bycatch rate and impacts to the fisheries. In order to respond the consultation process on certification determination with the United States, it was confirmed the current status of implementation on related measures conducted by Korean tuna longline fishery based on scientific observer data and survey for captains. Even though all Korean tuna longline fleets belong to the deep-set longline fishery (100-300m), which is not subject to the obligation of those mitigation measures, they are voluntarily implementing both measures, use of circle hook and whole finfish bait, regardless of which RFMO's Convention area they operate. And the national regulatory and management programs for sea turtle bycatch prevention adopted by Republic of Korea seems to be comparable in effectiveness to that of the United Stated. However, Korea needs to take preemptive measures in establishing sustainable fisheries, including the protection of the marine ecosystem and environment, as stronger requests are anticipated to be made by the international community on this matter.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.329-338
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• 2007

Data collected by on-board observers and from experimental surveys during 2004-2006 were analyzed to figure out the status of shark bycatch in Korean tuna longline fishery. Results obtained from 10 surveys indicated that 14, 13 and 1 species of shark were incidentally caught in Korean tuna longline fishery operated in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic (Mediterranean) Ocean, respectively, and that shark bycatch accounted for about 29-31% of the total catch. Sharks brought aboard were processed in 3 ways; out of 1,127 sharks observed, 575 sharks (51.0%) were discarded after finning, 299 sharks (26.5%) were stored frozen after finning for future use and 253 sharks (22.4%) were released into the sea immediately after caught. The fin to body weight ratio of sharks was estimated to be about 4.7% which is similar to the guideline of 5% established by the international fisheries organizations. The underestimate of shark bycatch in Korean tuna longline fishery was significant because it was general practice that fishermen on-board did not count the discarded shark as a catch.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2008

A pelagic tuna longline research cruise in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean from September to October of 2006 was conducted to compare catch rates with the use of different hook type and bait combinations. Traditional tuna hooks (J 4) and three circle hook types (C15, C16, C18), along with five bait types (chub mackerel (CM), jack mackerel (JM), milkfish (MF), sardine (SD), and squid (SQ)) and hook number as a proxy for hook depth were evaluated for their effect on bigeye tuna catch rates (fish per 1,000 hooks) using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs). Results from 28 sets indicated significant differences in bigeye catch rates between individual longline sets and hook number. The GLM explained 33% of the deviance in bigeye catch rates with these two factors. An alternative model formulation included bait type which had a small effect (explaining 2.7% of the deviance) on catch rates. Hook type had a negligible and non-significant effect in the GLMs. These results indicate that all of the hooks and baits tested are equally effective at catching bigeye tuna and that hook number (depth) was the paramount operational factor in explaining bigeye tuna catch rates.