No.183
Author:Chi-Chang Lai1,2, Jian-Zhi Huang1, Ching-Min Yang1, Jia-Sin He1, Long-Jing Wu1, Hsing-Han Hung1 and Ming-Kune Huang1
Abstract:
A lot of studies have been done on the fishing grounds shift and resources of surface and mid-layer migratory fishes near Taiwan, but less were done on the bottom dwelling fish species. In this research, the important bottom dwelling Red bigeye fish were studied to understand the shift of its resources during the 17 year period between 1997 and 2013, under the climate change index and environment factors of its habitat.
Results show Saurida undosquamis was the main species of the Lizardfishes, and Priacanthus macracanthus was the main species of the Red bigeye fishes caught in the south-western waters of Taiwan. The CPUE in fishing grounds was significantly higher at the depth of 100–200 m. Judging from the variation of these climate change factors, the occurrence of La Niña raises the CPUE of Lizardfishes and Red bigeye fishes, with a positive correlation with temperature change, and a negative correlation with salinity at the depth of 100 m. This suggests that the strong northeast monsoon that La Niña brings was conducive to the vertical mixing of different water layers. Further more, water from the south China sea, more nutrient than the Kuroshio, comes through the Penghu Channel influx also contributes to the increase in lizardfishes and Red bigeye fishes resources.
This research will help predict changes in the lizardfish resources under the influence of hydrological environment changes and will be critical information for making coping strategies.
Keywords: Climate Change, Hydrological Environment, Bottom Trawlnet , Lizardfishes , Red Bigeye Fish.
1 Coastal and Offshore Resources Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 80672, ROC.
2 Corresponding Author, Email: cclai@mail.tfrin.gov.tw; Tel: 07-8218103#212.