Study on the catch distribution and relationship between fishing ground and surface temperature for Ommastrephes bartrami in the northwestern pacific ocean

Based on the catch data from Chinese fishing vessels and surface temperature data between June and November from 1995 to 2001, the catch distribution and the relationship between fishing ground and surface temperature for Ommastrephes bartrami in three fishing areas in the Northwestern Pacific are analyzed using GIS software and statistics methods. The results indicate that the catches mainly come from fishing areas I (140°E ～150°E) and II(150°E ～165°E), and the squid is densely distributed, while that from fishing area III(165°E ～180°E) is lower. The fishing ground is extensiv ein June and July, and the average daily yield is basically under 1t/d. During August through October the fishing grounds concentrate in fishing area II, the average daily yield being basically over 1.5t/d . During the same period, the fishing surfaces temperatures in the three fishing areas are different and tend to decrease from west to east. In the same fishing area, the fishing temperature generally decreases with time. The most suitable fishing surface temperatures are as follows: 17～19℃,18～22℃,17～19℃,13～18℃ and 10～14℃ during July August, September, October and November respectively for areaⅠ; 12～14℃,14～17℃,15～19℃,14～18℃,12～15℃ and 10～13℃ during June, July, August, september, October and November respectively for areaⅡ; and 11～15℃ during June and July for area Ⅲ. The above result is authentic since it has been examined by K～S test. The squid density, yield distribution and fishing ground formation are closely related with the ocean environment for each of the three fishing areas.