STOCK ASSESSMENT OF SCOMBER JAPONISCUS FROM THE EAST CHINA SEA WITH VIRTUAL POPULATION ANALYSIS

Stock sizes of the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) from the East China Sea and the area off the mouth of Changjiang river were assessed with virtual population analysis. The result showed that stock sizes of chub mackerel from the East China Sea and the area off the mouth of Changjiang River were fluctuated between 132 000-235 000 and between 41 000-127 000 metric tones respectively in the past decade. The stock sizes of chub mackerel in recent years were stable on the relatively high levels. However, since the actual catches are gradually close to the stock sizes, it seems that there is not very much potential for further exploitation of this species.