Temporal changes in demersal fish assemblage structure in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea

Abstract

Both the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea are important fishing grounds for demersal fishes. Trawl surveys were conducted during winter from 1991 to 2007 to clarify temporal changes in demersal fish assemblage structure in the Kuroshio water and Yellow-Sea cold water within these seas. In total, 163 and 56 species of demersal fishes were collected in the Kuroshio water and Yellow-Sea cold water, respectively. Densities of shallow-water fishes decreased in both waters, and there was a marked decline in the Kuroshio water from 1996 to 2007. Species richness and evenness of demersal fish assemblage also decreased in the Kuroshio water. These changes are considered to have resulted from the high fishing intensity in the coastal and offshore areas of the seas.