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Abstract

Coastal fisheries constitute the second most important sector in fishery production in Japan, following offshore fisheries. Thus, spatial evaluation of coastal fishing grounds and understanding of the changes in biomass are important for the sustainable use of fishing resources. For the assessment of spatial fish biomass, a quantitative echo sounder is used, but such a device is not mass produced and involves a high cost. In the present study, we examined the feasibility of biomass assessment using typical commercial fisheries echo sounders that are widely used and cheaper than quantitative echo sounders. Therefore, we aimed to verify the validity of biomass calculations using a fisheries echo sounder and examine the relationship between the cross-sectional distribution of fish schools calculated from a fisheries echo sounder and the biomass obtained from a quantitative echo sounder. As a case study, we selected the whitebait fisheries in Mochimune, Suruga Ward, Shizuoka City, in the Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition, we designed a system in which the distribution information of fish schools (fish school map) based on data obtained from the fisheries echo sounder and positional information is shared only with data providers (fishery workers). Fishery workers refer to this information and make decisions on their operations and fishing grounds. We hope to further enhance the system by, improving the cost effectiveness ratio of necessary cost for fisheries to the catch price

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