The spawning ground of pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus) off Korean Peninsula

Abstract

In order to understand the spawning strategy of Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus) off the Korean Peninsula, the geographical distribution pattern of its ichthyoplankton were extracted and analyzed using the data surveyed from 1965 to 2010 in Korea. Among the geographical information of S. japonicus icthyoplankton, only its larvae information was available. The larvae had appeared off Korean Peninsula from March to October. Their main distribution area was between Cheju Island and the Korea Strait (CIKS) in May. To test the possibility of spawning of S. japonicus in the mid-east Yellow Sea where is rare on the geographical distribution information of its larvae, we sampled the ichthyoplankton in June 2008 and July and September 2009. S. japonicus eggs and larvae were found in the mid-east Yellow Sea in June and July. The correctness of species identification was tested using ND5 of mtDNA. Using the geographical distribution report of the ichthyoplankton, the main spawning and nursery ground of S. japonicus should be in the CIKS off Korean Peninsula in May. In addition, the mid-east Yellow Sea may be also used as a spawning ground of S. japonicus. 2010 in Korea. Among the geographical information of S. japonicus icthyoplankton, only its larvae information was available. The larvae had appeared off Korean Peninsula from March to October. Their main distribution area was between Cheju Island and the Korea Strait (CIKS) in May. To test the possibility of spawning of S. japonicus in the mid-east Yellow Sea where is rare on the geographical distribution information of its larvae, we sampled the ichthyoplankton in June 2008 and July and September 2009. S. japonicus eggs and larvae were found in the mid-east Yellow Sea in June and July. The correctness of species identification was tested using ND5 of mtDNA. Using the geographical distribution report of the ichthyoplankton, the main spawning and nursery ground of S. japonicus should b