Fisheries resources management of crucian carp based on assessment of fish stock and potential yield in the mid-upper system of Seomjin River

Abstract

This study was undertaken to suggest an effective fisheries resources management system by using stock assessment and potential yield analyses of crucian carp population in the mid-upper system of the Seomjin River. Fieldwork was conducted seasonally from 2008 to 2009 in the mid-upper system of the Seomjin River. The stock assessment was carried out by the swept area method and the potential yield was estimated by improved fisheries resource potential estimation system based on the Allowable Biological Catch. Also, the yield-per-recruit analysis was used to review the efficient management implication of the resource, Carassius auratus. As a result, the age at first capture (<TEX>$t_c$</TEX>) was estimated as 1.468 year, converted body length (BL) was 10.8 cm. Meaning the current fishing intensities, the instantaneous coefficient of fishing mortality (F) was <TEX>$0.067year^{-1}$</TEX>, and the yield-per-recruit analysis showed that the current yield per recruit was estimated to be 15.999 g with F and <TEX>$t_c$</TEX>. The instantaneous rate of fishing mortality that provides for Allowable Biological Catch (<TEX>$F_{ABC}$</TEX>) based on the current <TEX>$t_c$</TEX> and F was estimated as <TEX>$0.618year^{-1}$</TEX>. Therefore, the optimum fishing intensities could be achieved at the higher fishing intensity for Carassius auratus. The calculated annual stock of C. auratus was estimated as 7,608 kg, and the potential yield was estimated as 343 kg with <TEX>$t_c$</TEX> and F at the fixed current level. Using yield-per-recruit analysis, if F and <TEX>$t_c$</TEX> were set at <TEX>$0.618year^{-1}$</TEX> and 2 year, the yield per recruit and total allowable catch would be predicted to increase to 62 g and 2,531 kg by about 3.9 times and 7.3 times, respectively.