Effect of Ocean Climate Changes on the Korean Stock of Pacific Saury, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cololabis saira</Emphasis> (BREVOORT)

Atmospheric, hydrographic and fishery biological factors indicated that the abnormal northward shift in the distribution of Pacific saury might be the result of a strong flux of warm water into the Japan/East Sea in the late 1970s. Recruitment failure of saury in the late 1970s was attributed to the limitation of the productive area for primary production caused by oligotrophic warm water, and to mismatch of the time of the spring outburst with the earlier arrival of saury to the feeding ground. Comparison of monthly upper mixed layer depth (MLD) and critical depth supported the possibility of the mismatch phenomenon. However, an appropriate management scheme should be implemented to prevent recruitment overfishing for the stock when any sign of ocean climate changes is detected.