Stock assessment of elkhorn sculpin (Alcichthys alcicornis) along the Uljin area in the East Sea of Korea

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the current stock condition of elkhorn sculpin along the Uljin area in the East Sea of Korea. To assess the state of the stock, yield-per-recruit (YPR) and spawning biomass-perrecruit (SBPR) analyses were performed. Estimates of and were 2.10/year and 0.48/year, respectively, and those of and were 0.66/year and 0.54/year, respectively. Current fishing mortality was estimated at 0.63/year and the current age at first capture was 2.41years. was set as the target reference point of the stock. SBPR at and current SBPR were estimated to be 41.85g and 37.77g, respectively. Estimated FOTY which is the fishing mortality for the overfished threshold yield was 0.49/year. The ratio of SBPR/ was calculated as 0.90 and that of was 1.05. The ratio of was calculated as 1.15 and that of was 1.17. Therefore, the current stock condition of elkhorn sculpin along the Uljin area of Korea has not been overfished, however, it indicates that a light overfishing is going on this stock.