• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.30-46
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• 1992

Korea's first exploratory tuna fishing was done with a used longliner in 1957. Then the commercial fishing has been made steady headway since the 1960's and grown up to one of major tuna fishing countries in 1970's. The tuna fishing aimed primarily at acquiring foreign currency, then tuna was exported directly from the overseas fishing base. Tuna, however, has been gradually favored by Koreans as high-proteined foods according to the growth of GNP since the 1970's. In 1980, the canned tuna began to be produced and sold at home. And so the demand of raw tuna for cannaries has steeply increased not only for home but also for abroad, and stimulated the development of tuna purse seine fishery. The author carried out a study on the development of tuna purse seine fishery in Korea and countries concerned-the United States and Japan-because it is recognized to be significant for the further development of this fishery. Just as purse seining was originated in the United States, so tuna purse seining was also pioneered by Californian fishermen in the west coastal waters of the United States (Eastern Pacific Ocean). They started to produce the canned tuna in the early 1900's, and the demand for raw tuna began to be increased rapidly. In those days, tuna was mostly caught by pole-and-line, but the catch amount was far away from the demand. To satisfy this demand, they began to try out fishing tuna by the use of purse seine which had been born in the eastern waters in the 1820's and applied to catch white fishes in the western waters of the United States in those days. Even though their trial was technically successful through severe trial and error, a new problem was raised on the management of tuna resource and the preservation of porpoise which was occassionally caught with tuna. Then the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) was established by countries neighboring to the United States in 1950 and they set up the Commission's Yellowfin Regulatory Area (CYRA) and regulated the annual quota for yellowfin. Then, American owners tried to send their seiners to the Western African waters to expand the fishing ground in 1967 and to the Centeral-Western Pacfic in 1974, and the fishing ground was widely expanded. The number of the United States' purse seiners amounted to about 150 in 1980, but the enthusiasm was gradually cooled thereafter and the number of seiner was decreased to 67 in 1986. The landing of tuna by purse seiners in the United States after 1980 maintains 200 thousands M/T or so with a little increase despite the decreasing of domestic seiners. This shows that the landing by foreign seiners are increasing, compared with the landing by domestic seiners are decreasing. In Japan, even though purse seining was introduced in 1880, they had fished tuna by longline and pole-and -line until the tuna purse seining was introduced from the United States again. In the 1960's, Japanese tuna seiners made the exploratory fishing in the South-western Pacific and West African waters with a limited success. In 1971, the government-funded research center "JARMRAC" conducted the exploratory fishing which extended to the Central American waters, the Asia-Pacific Region and the South-western Pacific. It had also much difficulties, till they improved the fishing gear adaptable to the new fishing condition in the South-western Pacific. Japanese government has begun to licence 32 single seiners and 7 group seiners since 1980 and their standard has lasted up to now. The catch in the Pacific Islands Region amounted to 160 thousands M/T in 1986. Korea's tuna purse seine fishery was originated in 1971 by Jedong Industrial Co., Ltd. with three used tuna purse seiners purchased from the United States, and they began to fish in the Eastern Pacific, but failed owing to the superannuation of vessel and the infancy of fishing technique. The second challenge was done by Dongwon Industrial Co., Ltd. in 1979, with one used seiner purchased from the United States, and started to fish in the Eastern Pacific. Even though the first trial was almost unsuccessful but they could obtain the noticeable success by removing the vessel to the South-western Pacific in 1980. This success stimulated the Korean entherprisers to take part in this fishery, and the number of Korean tuna purse seiners has been increased rapidly in accordance with the increased demand for raw tuna. The number of vessels actually at work amounted to 36 in 1990 and they operate in the South-western Pacific. The annual catch of tuna by purse seiners amounted to 170 thousands M/T in 1990 and ranked to one of the major tuna purse seining countries in the world.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.194-204
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• 2021

The research was analyzed the catch data of the five years (2016-2020) for six joint venture company tuna purse seiners in the Atlantic Ocean, with the aim of suggesting improvement measures for responsible and sustainable fishing according to changes of recommendation by International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) on the tropical tunas. In the last five years, the average catch of six tuna purse seiner gradually increased to 7,745 tons, 8,364 tons and 9,053 tons from 2016 to 2018, but decreased to 7,761 tons in 2019 and 6,214 tons in 2020. The reason for the decrease in fishing volume in 2019 and 2020 was the fluctuation of the formation of the cold water zone (22-23℃), and the total ICCAT convention area of FAD closure in January and February due to the expansion of the FAD closure area and poor free school catching during two months period, respectively. The analysis on fishing area showed that the percentage of fishing in the high sea was about 85% although the FAD closure area included the EEZ zone in coastal countries; the rise of the fishing license in coastal countries is also believed to be a factor. In order to overcome such situations and improve catching volume, it will be possible if excellent manpower is secured, school fishing is expanded, and the production of high value-added catch (purse seine special: PS).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.595-602
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• 2017

In Korea, much research and development have occurred to enhance the technological competitiveness of tuna purse seining fisheries. Due to these efforts, fishing efficiency has been improved with the development of radar, sonar and global positioning systems for fish detection and revisions to the hull forms of tuna purse seiners. However, for skiff boats, net boats and speed boats, which are auxiliary working boats mounted on tuna purse seiners, technology has lagged behind relative to the modernization of the main vessel. In this study, the hull of an existing propeller-based net boat with steel wire net to protect tuna was changed to the hull of a water jet propulsion vehicle to reduce resistance and improve maneuverability. As a result, a prototype of a water jet propulsion option was produced according to the aluminum structure strength standards specified by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and safety was confirmed by performing a drop test. Moreover, through a sea trial test, an existing net boat was shown to have a speed of 12.0knots and a towing force of 2,545 kgf at 2,500 RPM. The prototype had a speed of 26.7 knots and a towing force of 2,011 kgf at 3,200 RPM, which satisfied the towing capacity standards of auxiliary working boats mounted on tuna purse seiners.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2017

Tuna purse seine fishery in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) has been rapidly developed since early 1980s due to massive investment of major distant water fishing nations, and catch by purse seine fishery operating in the WCPO accounts for nearly half of the world's tuna total catch. As fishing efficiency is reflected by not only improving of individual vessel's capacity but also increasing number of active vessel, it is essential to understand vessel capacity for reliable assessment result on how fishery affects stock status of target species. In this study, fishing efficiency was analyzed by main factors which are representative of vessel capacity using fishing data and vessel information related to Korean tuna purse seine fishery operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean from 1992 to 2014. It showed that fishing efficiency of vessel tends to be higher when having larger vessel tonnage, higher engine power, lower vessel age and larger length of vessel. As for fishing efficiency by set type, CPUE of associated set with floating objects was generally higher than that of free school set, and CPUE of free school set seemed to have a greater effect on engine power and vessel age compared to other factors.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.197-207
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• 1996

The proportion of log-associated school catches by Korean tuna purse seiners in the western Pacific has shown a declining trend until recent years. During the period $1990\~1995$, log-associated school catches contributed $34.6\%$ to the total Korean tuna purse seine catch, representing quite a low level compared to the early phase of the purse seine fishery. Species compositions of both log-associated and free-school catches showed that skipjack, Katswonus pelamis, was dominant species and yellowfin, Thunnus albacares, followed, with the small amount of bigeye tunas, T. obesus, Yellowfin proportion was higher in free-school catches than in log-associated school catches. Log-associated school catches monitored during the scientific observation period were made of $60\%$ skipjack, $38\%$ yellowfin, and $2\%$ bigeye tunas, indicating the low skipjack and high yellowfin proportion compared with historical fisheries data based on logbooks. A total of 11 by-catch species were identified, of which sharks occurred together with tunas in all sets and yellowtail kingfish was the most abundant by-catch species. From the length distribution it was found that small yellowfin less than 70 cm mainly distributed around floating objects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2016

To suggest more efficient fishing operation, it was analyzed using five years (2011~2015) catch data of six Korean-flagged tuna purse seiners (with 1000 mt of haul capacity) operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean. In terms of annual total catch, it presented a two-year cycle of variation on catch, showing that catches of 2012, 2014 and 2015 were high, whereas those of 2011 and 2013 were low. The proportions on fishing effort of associated set were around 21.9~30.8% having 21.5~45.0% of total catch. In this study, there was no significant difference between catches of unassociated set and associated set. When considered having good fishing conditions, fishing activities were concentrated in the areas of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Kiribati, while it showed that fishing ground spreaded out to the areas of not only PNG and Kiribati but also Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Tuvalu and Solomon islands. The average number of fishing days was 271 with a range of 246~285. As restriction on fishing operation such as reduction of fishing days and higher fishing fee are expected to strengthen, the result of this study will be helpful to select more efficient fishing methods for purse seine fishery based on fishing conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 1994

Purse seiner detects a fish school navigating in full speed with the aid of fish finder, sonar, helicopter, etc., and casts a net quickly to enclose the fish school in purse seine net according to the movement of the fish school, wind, and current. At this moment, if the time of casting a net, direction, speed, and turning circle are net suitable, it is unavoidable to lose fish school founded with hard efforts and we only consume our efforts of casting and hauling the net. Therefore, in order to enclose the fish school to enhance the amount of fish for each casting, the author investigated the type of ships equipped with purse seiners and examined maneuvering tests so that we provide some basic information to figure out the ability of steerage correctly. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Block coefficients of pelagic tuna purse seiners with gross tonnage between 500 and 1500 tons are recorded between 0.50 and 0.55 which are greater than those of off shore purse seiners recorded as between 0.44 and 0.54 and less than those of various cargo ships recorded as between 0.56 and 0.84. 2. L/B, L/D, B/D, B/T, and T/D of the class of gross tonnage between 75 and 130 tons are respectively 4.49, 11.00, 2.45, 2.85 and 0.86 as their average and those of the class of between 500 and 1500 tons are 4.89, 10.53, 2.15, 2.73 and 0.75 respectively, which are quite different from those of various cargo ships recorded as 6.0~7.5, 11.0~12.0, 1.6~2.0, 2.2~2.8 and 0.65~0.75 respectively. 3. Rudder area ratio of purse seiners of the class of between 75 and 130 tons is 1/24~1/31 and that of the clase of between 500 and 1500 tons is 1/36~1/42 which is greater than that of various cargo ships recorded as 1.45~1.75. 4. On speed-length ratio of purse seiners. 111 Dong-a has the biggest value 2.94 the class of 130 tons has 2.52 the class of between 75 and 100 tons has 2.30~2.35 and the class of between 500 and 1500 tons has 1.99~2.05. 5. Turning circle of stern trawlers Pusan 404 and Haelim 3 are measured as below according to rudder angles 5$^{\circ}$, 15$^{\circ}$, 25$^{\circ}$ and 35$^{\circ}$ respectively. Advances are 11.3~13.6, 6.0~7.1, 3.6~4.8 and 2.5~3.5 times of LPP respectively. Tactial diameters are 15.2~18.6, 6.9~8.0, 4.2~4.9 and 2.9~3.5 times of LPP. Purse seiner 111 Dong-a with rudder angle 35$^{\circ}$ has a good yaw with quick responsibility since its advance is 2.2~2.3 times of LPP and since its tactial diameter is 2.0~2.1 times of LPP. 6. In full ahead going of purse seiner 111 Dong-a, it takes about 2 minutes and 10.6 times of LPP from the reverse turning its engine into full astern to the ship speed 0. In its full astern going, it takes about 1 minute and 5.1 times of LPP from the reverse turning its engine into full ahead to the ship speed 0. In its full ahead going, it takes about 2 minutes and 50 seconds and 12.3 times of LPP from stopping its engine to the dead slow ahead speed 3.2 knots.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1984

From the four tuna purse seiners operating in the western equatorial Pacific waters 370 tuna schools were sampled on attribute of the school, fishing operation of purse seine sit and catch. The data were tabulated and subjected to the statistical tests of independency on the associated object and availability of the school, and catch per set of purse seine fishery as well. The resultant inferences are as follows. 1. Most frequent attributes of the tuna schools found on the surface are associated with sea birds, bait fishes and the flotsams. 2. In fishing operations of purse seine sets on the flotsam-associated schools, the settings were more frequently performed at dawn than in day-time. In fishing operations on the sea-birds-associated schools, the siftings were more frequent in day-time than at dawn. 3. From the flotsam-associated schools the successful sets were significantly more frequent. 4. In the fishing operations of purse seine sets, some of the flotsam-associated schools were subjected to the supplementary sets in success to the initial sets until the schools were consummated. 5. The fish-attracting effect of the flotsam is correlated with structure of the flotsam, but not with length of the flotsam. The flotsams, which tend to attract large tuna schools are the complicated-structure flotsams, i, e. driftwoods with roots or branches or with both of them, otherwise a bunch of uprooted bamboo shrubs, while a log without roots and branches tend to be an attractant inferior to the flotsam of complicated structure.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.182-200
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• 1995

Thirty two vessels of the Korean purse seiner had been operated in the Western Pacific Ocean for mainly skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelmis LINNAEUS and yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares BONNATERRE from January to December in 1991. Among them, fourteen vessels were chosen for this research. During the year their daily operated vessels totalled 4,153 vessels, their total casting net were 2,982 times, in caught 1,798 times, and their total catch was 106,300 M/T. We investigate the distribution of their catch by species, by body size, and by surfance water temperature, and also investigate the distribution of their catch by month and section of the sea, where the sections are separated by 30' of longitude and latitude from the monthly operated sea. We summarize these as follows : 1. The rate of catch by species is 75r/o skipjack tunas, 22.3% yellowfin tunas, and 2.7% bigeye and other tunas. 2. Of the caught skipjack tunas, those of weight 2.0~10kg are most and 68%, those of 1.5~8kg are 11.6%, and those of 3.0~8kg are 9.9%. Of the caught yellowfin tunas, those of weight 5~50kg and 10~50kg are most and 23.1%, and 28.3% respectively, those of 20~50kg are 15.8%, weight 30~50kg are 12.5%, and weight 2~50kg are 9.7%. 3. On the distribution of catch by surface water temperature, 49% of catch are taken between $29.0^{\circ}C$ and $29.4^{\circ}C$, 37% are taken between $29.5^{\circ}C$ and $29.9^{\circ}C$, and about 6% are taken between $28.5^{\circ}C$ and $28.9^{\circ}C$, but very little, only about 1% are taken below $28.4^{\circ}C$ and above $30.5^{\circ}C$. 4. On the distribution of catch by month and section of sea, skipjack tunas are most caught 10,618M/T in August and 10,412M/T in September in the section of Lat. $3^{\circ}{\sim}6^{\circ}S$ and Long. $174^{\circ}E{\sim}176^{\circ}W$, caught much 8,825M/I' in June and 8,057M/T in January in section of Lat. $1^{\circ}S{\sim}3^{\circ}N$ and Long. $142^{\circ}{\sim}151^{\circ}$E, but caught very little in May, November and December in the costal area of New Guinea. Yellowfin tunas are mostly caught 4,070M/T in June in the section of Lat. $0^{\circ}{\sim}4^{\circ}$N and Long. $142^{\circ}{\sim}151^{\circ}$E, and caught much over 2,000M/T in February~April and October~December in the section of coastal area and near islands, but caught very little in distant water area.