• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.376-385
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• 2017

This study was conducted to understand the relationships between fish and zooplankton of distribution in the coastal waters of the East Sea from May to August 2016 using hydroacoustic. To distinguish between fish and zooplankton, we used the time varied threshold (TVT) method at the frequency of 120 kHz. As a result, the mean nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC) of fish was highest at $913m^2/n.mile^2$ in June and lowest at $315m^2/n.mile^2$ in July. The mean NASC of zooplankton was highest at $247m^2/n.mile^2$ in May and lowest at $70m^2/n.mile^2$ in July. The mean NASC of fish and zooplankton showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) with high correlation ($R^2=0.84$). In addition, there was no significant difference in the mean NASC of fishes and zooplankton by depth (t-test, person correction = -0.17, p > 0.05).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2014

We aimed to assess the behavior characteristics of fish on an artificial reef using hydroacoustic techniques. The acoustical survey was conducted with a 200 kHz dual beam transducer while fishing on the stone combination reef of Uljin. A school of fish were detected on the artificial reef before sunset and floated on the artificial reef at 30 minutes after sunset. The density (Nautical Area Scattering Coefficient, NASC) of fish that floated on the artificial reef after sunset was about $600m^2/nmi^2$; similar observations (about $50m^2/nmi^2$ or less) were noted after 19:00 hours. Fish caught by fishing on the artificial reef were Sebastes schlegeli, Hexagrammos otakii, Sebastes thompsoni, and Conger myriaster. Resultantly, we demonstrated that hydroacoustic techniques are useful for detecting behavior characteristics of fish in the artificial reef. Such results can be used for basic data to estimate the install effect of the artificial reefs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1055-1062
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• 2014

Hydroacoustic surveys were conducted for spatio-temporal distribution and size estimation of fish in the Yongdam reservoir, Korea, from April to July 2014. Acoustic data were collected along acoustic transects using a 120 kHz scientific echosounder. The received acoustic data were the in situ acoustic target strength (dB) and nautical area scattering coefficient ($m^2/mile^2$). Data on fish behavioral patterns and size were collected using a DIDSON acoustic camera at stationary stations. Fish were mainly distributed in the center channel and close to the outer Yongdam reservoir. Acoustic density of fish in the summer season were higher than in the spring season. The seasonal vertical distribution pattern of fish aggregations may be strongly related to the vertical temperature structure. The size distribution of fish obtained from an acoustic camera correlated well with the acoustic size of fish from an echosounder.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.288-297
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• 2019

This study conducted a survey using a sampling inspection method and acoustic technique for continuous monitoring of useful organisms and non-commercial fish species distributed in the water of Gwangyang Bay, and evaluated the marine resources. In June, 2018, 38 species were caught in the shrimp beam trawl, comprising 3,594 marine organisms with a total weight was 65,415.3g. The acoustic survey showed that the nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC; $m^2/n.mile^2$) for the waters of Gwangyang Bay was highest in Transect 15 ($1,655.5m^2/n.mile^2$) and lowest in Transect 1 ($1.3m^2/n.mile^2$). The biomass was estimated to be 2,634.9 tons in the acoustic survey. This indicates that the acoustic survey method detected more fish shoals than the sampling inspection method.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.1023-1029
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• 2021

The Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus is one of the fish species within the total allowable catch (TAC) system which requires further investigation. In this study, the acoustic survey method was used to analyze the distribution of the Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus across all the seas of South Korea. The sea area within Korea was investigated using the research vessels 20, 21, and 22 of the National Institute of Fisheries Science. The acoustic surveys were carried out from July to September 2019 and February to May 2020. The acoustic systems used in the survey had frequencies of 38 kHz and 120 kHz (EK60, EK80, Simrad, Norway) of the split-beam scientific echosounder. The results showed that, in spring, 277 m²/nmi² was the highest in the east sea area, and the same in the summer season 880 m²/nmi² was the highest in the east sea area. In autumn, the highest nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC) value was observed in the coastal portion of the south sea, and in winter, the NASC values were generally low in all the sea area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 2008

This study aims at assessment of spatio-temporal distribution of demersal fish aggregations near the west coast of Jeju Island using hydroacoustic survey. A 200 kHz split beam transducer attached to a small towed body was used for all acoustic investigations. The received acoustic data were in situ acoustic target strength (TS, dB) for all pings and nautical area scattering coefficient(NASC, $m^2/mile^2$) for 0.1 mile along 12 acoustic transects. Demersal fish aggregations are distributed around the coastal slope having 20 to 30 m depth throughout all seasons. The concentration is higher during the summer season. With regard spatial distribution, higher demersal fish aggregations have been detected near the West coast of Shinchang and especially near Chagwi-do. Pelagic fish aggregations were higher to the south of Chagwi-do during the spring season. Additionally, standing stock of demersal fish aggregations from the NASC data, TS function, and length-weight function of dominant species was estimated as follows: 3.2 ton (CV 21.8%) in December 2006, 17.9 ton (CV 21.6%) in April 2007, 30.8 ton (CV 17.8%) in June 2007, and 22.5 ton (CV 24.2%) in October 2007. The application of hydroacoustic methods offers a new approach to understanding spatiotemporal structure and estimate the biomass of demersal fish aggregations in the coastal area. And the results can be made up limitations of qualitative analysis through net and diving for fisheries resources survey in coastal area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.960-968
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• 2015

This study examined the spatiotemporal distribution of demersal fish aggregations in the Northern East China Sea by conducting a trawl survey with hydroacoustic devices. A bottom trawl was used for this survey and fish density was determined from the catch data. Acoustic data were collected at frequencies of 38 and 200 kHz from November to December 2014 and converted into the nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC, $m^2/n{\cdot}mile^2$). In the catch data analysis, the range of catch per unit area by station was $26-8,055kg/km^2$ and for the acoustic data, that of the NASC was $0.45-34.80m^2/n{\cdot}mile^2$. The values were significantly correlated. The combined results of both surveys found that the density was highest at St. 5 ($33^{\circ}$ 10.3', $126^{\circ}$ 23.3') and lowest at St. 8 ($33^{\circ}$ 20.7', $127^{\circ}$ 36.3'). The application of hydroacoustic methods offers a new approach for estimating the biomass of demersal fish aggregations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.325-338
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• 2016

Properties of aggregation and spatial distribution of fish were examined based on three lines in the South Sea of Korea using three frequencies (18, 38, and 120 kHz) of a scientific echosounder. The vertical distribution of fish was displayed using acoustic biomass namely nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC). As a result, at 120 kHz high NASC showed from water surface to 20 meters in deep while at 18 and 38 kHz very high NASC presented in 70 ~ 90 meters in depth, especially at line 3. Among three lines, the line 2 had lowest NASC. The horizontal distribution of fish using three frequencies together exhibited high NASC between the eastern South Sea and center of South Sea. In especial, NASC ($801{\sim}1,920m^2/n{\cdot}mile^2$) was observed along coastal waters from Busan to Tongyeong, Geoje, and Namhae. In regard with the property of aggregation of fish schools, the volume back-scattering strength ($S_V$) of three lines presented close each other, however, the range of $S_V$ in the line 2 was shortest (-53.5 ~ -43.4 dB). The average distributional depth was deep in the order of L3 ($32.8{\pm}9.0m$), L1 ($45.2{\pm}9.5m$), L2 ($49.7{\pm}5.6m$). The average altitude was high in the order of L3 ($13.4{\pm}10.3m$), L1 ($17.0{\pm}12.6m$), L2 ($56.7{\pm}5.6m$). The average length, thickness, and area were large in the order of L1, L3, and L2. This means that small sized fish schools were distributed near water surface in the line 2 while relatively large and similar sized fish aggregations between line 1 and line 3 appeared however, fish schools at line 3 had lower distributional depth and smaller compared to those at line 1. Acoustic data were visualized for demonstrating the entire circumstances of survey area. Additionally, there was no correlation between acoustic and trawl results.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.798-804
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• 2015

The distributions of demersal fish along the coast of the South Sea, Korea, were estimated from a hydroacoustic survey and bottom trawl catches in April of 2015. Acoustic data were collected at 38 kHz, and converted into the nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC, m²/n·mile²) for 0.1 n∙mile along eight transects during day and nighttime. Various demersal fish species were collected and the dominant species comprised no more than half of the catch. The estimated acoustic density of demersal fish compared well with the cumulative catch weight from bottom trawl catches in daytime, but showed a low correlation at nighttime. The NASC of pelagic fish determined for anchovy was correlated with water temperature. The combined hydroacoustic and trawl method can be used to understand the spatial/temporal structure and estimate the density of demersal fish in coastal areas.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.671-681
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• 2014

The distribution and abundance of coastal fish species in Asan Bay, Korea, were estimated from hydroacoustic survey and net catches. Acoustic data were collected with 38 and 200 kHz from July to October of 2012, and converted to the nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC, $m^2/mile^2$) for $0.25n{\cdot}mile$ along ten transects. Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus was the dominant specie in the net catches. The virtual echogram technique was used to distinguish E. japonicus from other species based on the differences in the mean volume backscattering strength (${\Delta}MVBS$) at 38 and 200 kHz. Engraulis japonicus and other fishes are mainly distributed in the center channel and outer part of Asan Bay. E. japonicus tends to move from inner to outer Asan Bay in summer and fall. From NASC data, the target strength and length-weight function of E. japonicus and other fishes were used to estimate the E. japonicus stock at 24.1-93.3 tons, and other fish at 40.6-88.4 tons from July to October 2012. The estimated anchovy biomass compared well with the cumulative catch weight from stow net catches. The hydroacoustic method offers an approach to understanding spatial/temporal structure and estimating the biomass of fish aggregations in coastal areas.