• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2019

To produce healthy and stable seed production, we need to obtain information and understand vision that affects behavior of red spotted grouper. We examined their expression and retinal development during the juvenile development. Short-wavelength sensitive opsin (SWS2), a cone photoreceptor, began to be expressed from lens and ear vesicle formation stage and its expression increased until 10 days after hatching (dah). In case of middle-wavelength sensitive opsin (MWS), its expression was detected at 3 dah and reached the highest level at 21 dah. The expression of long-wavelength sensitive opsin (LWS) was first observed from 3 dah and their expression decreased thereafter. Rhodopsin, a rod photoreceptor, was found to be expressed from 2 dah and its expression reached the highest level at 50 dah. The outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer began to differentiate at 2 dah, while choroid first appeared at 4 dah so that the eyes became black. These results indicate that the development of retina mostly completes around 4 dah. It seems that the development of the retina and the expression of the opsin genes are closely related to the behavior such as hunting prey, considering that the timing of the completion of the development of the retina, the timing of gene expression, and the timing of completion of yolk absorption are similar.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2021

The mass production of fertilized eggs of the convict grouper Hyporthodus septemfasciatus was studied from 2013 to 2020 for industrial aquaculture. The experiment was divided into two groups. Group 1 broodstock was raised from wild-caught fry and used from 2013 to 2020. Group 2 broodstock was raised from artificially propagated fry and used from 2019 to 2020. Males used to collect sperm for artificial insemination weighed more than 7 kg. The effects of various hormones on artificial ovulation were investigated from 2013 onward. Among these, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa) at 100 ㎍/kg body weight showed the most effective results and was used for artificial egg collection from 2014 onward. In Group 1, the average total egg production per year, average egg production per individual, fertilization rate, and hatching rate were 26,143 mL, 609.7 mL, 93.3%, and 91.8%, respectively, and in Group 2, were 2,750 mL, 316.5 mL, 92.1%, and 90.4%, respectively. Based on these results, we showed that a large number of fertilized eggs for artificial seeding could be produced consistently. Moreover, the mass production of fertilized eggs in Group 2 establishes a foundation for the complete aquaculture cycle of H. septemfasciatus.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2021

We studied steroid metabolites produced from red-spotted grouper ovarian follicles during maturation. Oocytes with 350-500 ㎛ diameter were in vitro incubated in the presence of [³H] 17α-hydroxyprogesterone as a precursor. Steroid metabolites were extracted from incubated media and oocytes. The extracts were separated and identified using thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The identified metabolites were androstenedione (A₄), testosterone (T) and estrone (E₁). The metabolites of A₄ was dominant in all size of oocytes and it was the highest in 480 ㎛ diameter oocytes. The metabolites of two progestins, 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and 17α,20α-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one were detected in the oocytes less than 480 ㎛ diameter although they were not identified definitely. In the oocytes of 480 ㎛ diameter, metabolite of progestin was the highest, and germinal vesicle (GV) was still in the middle of cytoplasm. In the oocytes of 500 ㎛ diameter, GV was began to migrate and the major metabolites were A₄ and E₁. The metabolite of E₁ was detected in all size of oocytes and it was higher than that of E₂. These results suggest that oocytes of 480 ㎛ diameter are the transitional stage involving steroidogenic shift to final oocyte maturation and potential function of E₁ during maturation process.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2017

We investigated that changes of survival rate and hematological factors in sevenband grouper (Epinephelus septemfasciatus), exposed to ammonia. First, the fish was exposed and was observed survival rate. We observed the survival rate of the fish when exposed at each ammonia concentrations (0, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.8 mg/L, $NH_3$) for 96 hours. The 96-h $LC_{50}$ (lethal ambient concentration for 50% of the population) of $NH_4^+$ and un-ionized ammonia ($NH_3$) for sevenband grouper were 26.7 and 0.6 mg/L, respectively. Secondly, we exposed the fish to 96-h $LC_{50}$ ammonia concentration (0.6 mg/L) for 96 hours, then sampled the blood of groupers for analysis of cortisol, glucose, $NH_3$, GOT, GPT, total protein (TP), electrolytes ($Na^+$, $Cl^-$) and osmolality in plasma. The plasma cortisol, glucose, GOT and GPT were increased with increasing of elapsed time and ammonia concentration. In addition, the $NH_3$ and total protein in plasma were significantly increased to 12 hours exposed to ammonia, and then decreased. But, the values were significantly higher than the control. The plasma electrolytes ($Na^+$, $Cl^-$) and osmolality were decreased with increasing of elasped time. The results in the present study suggest that the continuous exposure of ammonia to juveniles of sevenband grouper may be a stressor and negative influence.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 1998

Since 1989, mass mortality has repeatly occurred in cage-cultured sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus along the southern coast of Korea in the summer season and usually reached over 80% within a few months. Diseased fish showed the clinical signs of anorexia, dark coloration, loss of eqilibrium, spinal swimming behaviour, vertebral deformity and inflation of swim bladder. Histopathologically, necrosis and/or vacuolation of the nerve cells in the brain and retina were observed. We previously reported that the causative agent was filtrable. The causative agent was not culturable in various fish cells; RTG-2, CHSE-214, BF-2, EPC and FHM. However, electron microscopic observation revealed unenveloped icosahedral viral particles with about 30 nm in diameter in the cytoplasm of nerve cells of the brain. The characteristics of the virus was tested by an artificial infection with the filtrate of the homogenate of diseased fish. The pathogenicity of the virus was retained after treatment with ether or heat ($50^{\circ}C$, 30 min) but partly lost by pH 3 or 11 treatment. These results suggest that the causative agent are similar to the fish nodavirus. In order to compare the causative agent with a fish nodavirus, Striped Jack Nervous Necrosis Virus (SJNNV), a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with primers specific to SJNNV. As a result, about 430 by PCR products were detected from the brain and the eye of both naturally and artificially infected sevenband grouper. All these results represent that the mass mortality in the cultured sevenband grouper is caused by the infection of a nodavirus similar to SJNNV and this is the first report of a fish nodavirus from the cultured sevenband grouper in Korea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2018

We examined the effect of salinity and water temperature on hatching and survival rates of fertilized eggs of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ ${\times}$ E. lanceolatus ♂) at different developmental stages, determining optimal conditions for their long-distance transportation. Deformities and hatching rates of fertilized grouper eggs were observed at salinities of 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, and 39 psu. The optimal salinity was determined to be 36 psu, with a survival rate of $70.0{\pm}2.0%$. Transportation experiments at 36 psu were conducted at water temperatures of 21, 24, 27, and $30^{\circ}C$, different developmental stages such as morula, 5-myomere, and tail beating for hatching and survival rates. The optimal water temperature and developmental stage for transporatation were $30^{\circ}C$ and tail beating stage and those hatching rates were $50.6{\pm}1.9%$ and $86.3{\pm}1.3%$, respectively. At $21^{\circ}C$, the survival rate by transportation water temperature was highest ($73.1{\pm}10.6%$), but the hatching rate ($17.1{\pm}3.1%$) was lowest. Therefore, the hybrid grouper fertilized eggs (E. fuscoguttatus ♀ ${\times}$ E. lanceolatus ♂) can be most efficiently produced under long-distance transportation conditions during the tail beating stage and at a water temperature of $30^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1997

The experiment was conducted to understand the effect of HCG upon ovulation induction and egg maturation in the sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, as a part of the research for its resources management and seed production. Three different size groups of sevenband groupers showing 300~400g, 1,500~2,000g and 2,500~4,000g, were collected from June to August, 1996. They were treated two or three times with HCG (500~1,000 IU/kg). Gonadal development of the sevenband groupers were examined using the paraffin section method and then stained with haematoxylin and eosin. When smaller groups of sevenband grouper having 300~400g, 1,500~2,00g and 2,500~3,200g in weight were treated two or three time with HCG 9500~1,000 IU/g), their gonads contained oogonia, oocytes with the size of 20~30${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, and stroma tissues. However, in case of two HCG treatments with a dosage of 1,000 IU/kg on sevenband groupers of 3,400~4,000g, both healthy eggs of $800\mu$m in diameter and regressing eggs were ovulated. A sevenband grouper of 4,000g obvulated 4,252 eggs in total. Of these, healthy and regressing eggs turned out to be 20.8% and 79.2%, respectively. In addition, previtellogenic oocytes of around $50\mu$m, oocytes of 20~$30\mu$m, and ovulation trace were also observed in the gonad.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.25.1-25.6
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• 2018

The main objective of this study was to provide anesthetic criteria of clove oil for an effective manipulation and transportation of red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara. When anesthesia temperature (20, 24, and $28^{\circ}C$) and concentration of clove oil (25, 50, and 75 ppm) were increased, the anesthesia and recovery time decreased and tended to be similar to each other between juvenile and adult. Also, as the temperature and concentration increased, the ratio of exposure time and recovery time between juvenile and adult were decreased. When plasma cortisol concentrations were compared for 48 h after anesthesia with 50 ppm of clove oil, both the juvenile and adult fish grew up to 12 h; however, thereafter decreased and there was no significant difference from control at 48 h.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.663-686
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• 2003

This study is aimed at analyzing the effectiveness of TAC policy using a bioeconomic model. A surplus-production model is used as a population dynamic model, from which the yellowedge grouper is estimated to be overfished. As a result, a 10-year rebuilding plan using the TAC policy is established. According to the result of model, under the well-enforced system, the target stock biomass is achieved during the rebuilding period. Especially, in order to accomplish the target stock biomass, the annual quota should be allocated much less than 342 tons that NMFS recommended. The NPV over a 25-year under the TAC policy Is predicted to be less than under the status quo. The economic gains under the variable-catch TAC policy is less than under the constant-catch TAC policy as the interest rate decreases, while the NPV under the constant-catch is greater than under the variable-catch TAC policy when the interest rate is high.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2013

To understand the sex reversal characteristics in the longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), this study examined the sex reversal and artificial masculinization of wild caught E. bruneus reared in indoor rearing tank after a 17${\alpha}$-methyltestosterone injection. To domesticate a broodstock, 64 wild caught E. bruneus, between 47.0 to 110.0 cm in total length and from 1.5 to 21.4 kg in body weight, were reared in indoor rearing tank (4.0 to 5.0 m wide, and 2.5 to 3.0 m depth) for four years. Seven specimens showed sex reversal from female to male during indoor rearing condition, whose total length and body weights were from 63.0 to 99.0 cm and from 4.4 to 13.2 kg, respectively. After inducing artificial masculinization in 14 female E. bruneus with a 17${\alpha}$-methyltestosterone (2.0 mg/kg BW) implants for 3 years, spermiation occurred in 9 specimens (total length: 54.0 to 68.0 cm, body weight: 2.3 to 4.3 kg). Among the female to male sex reversals, two specimens returned back to being female, whose body weights were 2.8 kg (initially 2.6 kg) and 2.7 kg (initially 2.3 kg). Therefore, this study suggested that E. bruneus (> 3.0 kg) was more effective in masculinizing by 17${\alpha}$-methyltestosterone implants.