AUTHOR=Chen Lu-Chi , Weng Jinn-Shing , Naimullah Muhamad , Hsiao Po-Yuan , Tseng Chen-Te , Lan Kuo-Wei , Chuang Che-Chen 

TITLE=Distribution and Catch Rate Characteristics of Narrow-Barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) in Relation to Oceanographic Factors in the Waters Around Taiwan

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.770722

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2021.770722

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=This study explored the relationship of the catch rates and fishery dynamics of Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) with oceanographic factors around the waters of Taiwan using high-resolution fisheries and environmental data from 2011–2016. The results revealed that trammel nets accounted for 69.79% of the total catch and operated mostly in the Taiwan Strait. Seasonal variations were found in the distribution of higher catch rates, which occurred in the southwestern Taiwan Strait, including the waters along the southwestern coast of Taiwan and around the Penghu Islands, extending to the Taiwan Bank during autumn, and increasing in winter. To predict the spatial and temporal pattern of Spanish mackerel density and its related with oceanographic variables and spatio-temporal variables, generalized additive models (GAMs) would be used. Total explained deviance was from 48.4%, which conformed to the assumption of the Gaussian distribution. All variables examined were statistically significant predictors (p < 0.05). The interaction of latitude and longitude was the most important factor among spatio-temporal variables, whereas sea surface chlorophyll-a (CHL) was the most important factor among oceanographic variables. The results of projected changes in El Niño/Southern Oscillation events for S. commerson revealed that catch rates were higher and distributed further southward during La Niña events. We inferred that the distribution of S. commerson gradually concentrated toward the southwest with the northeast monsoon, which was enhanced during La Niña in winter.