Spatiotemporal Distribution of Pacific Anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) Eggs in the West Sea of Korea

Abstract

Pacific anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) eggs were collected during the spawning season (2000-2003) using a revised ring net in the coastal waters adjacent to the Geum River Estuary in the West Sea of Korea (Yellow Sea). Anchovy eggs were present from May to September, showing a peak in spawning from June to July when the water temperature and salinity were <TEX>$17-27^{\circ}C$</TEX> and above 30.00 psu, respectively. During the main spawning season, no clear diel cycle (regarding the 24-h sampling period of dusk, night, dawn, and daytime) was detected in the vertical distribution of anchovy eggs near Eocheong Island (50-60m depth). Judging from the developmental stages of the collected eggs, it appeared that anchovies spawned mostly at night and that the eggs hatched at dusk and during the night. The density of anchovy eggs was high in the southwest-northeast direction in June, and spawners appeared to move offshore in July. Mean egg density was higher in June 2002 than in June 2003 when water temperatures and salinities were lower. This study on the spatiotemporal distribution of eggs will contribute to developing management plans for the Pacific anchovy in Korea.