Numerical studies on the influence of the variations of the Kuroshio Path on the transport of fish eggs and larvae

Main spawning and nursery grounds of the Pacific Sardine are formed in the coastal boundary regions of the Kuroshio S of Kyushu and S of Honshu, respectively. Numerical experiments on the transport and dispersion of particles in and neighbouring areas of the Kuroshio were done to investigate the transport process of the fish eggs and larvae from the spawning ground to the downstream nursery ground. Surface currents measured with GEK in the past were averaged for both paths with and without large meanders of the Kuroshio in the S of Honshu and used as the data basis. Particles were released in the Kuroshio SE of Kyushu. The results show that the transport rate of them into the S coastal waters of Honshu during large meandered path is larger than the rate during the straight path period. However, recruitment rates of the Pacific Sardine in the S coastal waters of Honshu decreases during the large meander periods of the Kuroshio path. This inverse correlation is considered to be caused by the poorer food environment strongly influenced by the intrusion of the Kuroshio water.