한국 서해에서 어획된 갈치(Trichiurus japonicus)의 성숙과 산란

Abstract

The largehead hairtail Trichiurus japonicus is an economically important fish species in Korean waters. However, relatively few studies exist on its reproductive biology in the Yellow Sea. In this study, we investigated the repro ductive characteristics of T. japonicus collected from the Yellow Sea in Korea between February 2020 and January 2021. A total of 356 individuals were examined. The female-to-male ratio was 1:0.32, indicating a predominance of females. Female gonadosomatic index (GSI) values were peaked in August. Histological examination of the gonads indicated that spawning occurred from February to August, with peak spawning in August. The anal length of females at 50% maturity was estimated at 17.9 cm, and the absolute fecundity ranged from 6,378 to 54,878 eggs, increas ing with body size. These findings provide updated, region-specific information on the spawning period and size at maturity of T. japonicus. This provides essential baseline data for the management and conservation of this species in the Yellow Sea of Korea.