Evaluation of the Effect of Marine Ranching Activities on the Tongyeong Marine Ecosystem

Using ecosystem models (Ecopath, Ecosim, and Ecospace), we assessed the structure and function of the Tongyeong marine ranching ecosystem and compared changes in various ecosystem components before and after marine ranching activities. An ecosystem structure model, Ecopath, was used to estimate the changes in biomass and trophic level of major species or groups, the relative contribution of target species or groups to the total flow of energy (throughput), and niche overlaps and impacts of competition between major species or groups. It showed that the Tongyeong ecosystem had 4 trophic levels. A large amount of energy flows occurred at trophic levels 3 and 4, and jacopever rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) and black rockfish (S. inermis) that were target species for stock enhancement belonged to trophic level 3, indicating that those two species played an important role in the ecosystem. Using an ecosystem dynamic model, Ecosim, the mechanism of dynamic changes in the quantity of target species or groups was investigated to identify the effects of stock enhancement activities and impacts of fishing intensity. After marine ranching activities, the biomass of two target species had increased, while those of most other fish groups decreased. Assuming that fishing mortality was double the current level, the biomass of most fish groups decreased but jacopever rockfish maintained its current stock level due to excessive stock enhancement and low fishing mortality in recent years. An ecosystem space model, Ecospace, was employed to simulate the temporal and spatial dynamics of the biomass of organisms in order to examine how resource enhancement activities have changed the distribution and abundance of target species or groups in the ecosystem. The distribution pattern of jacopever rockfish and black rockfish showed stronger aggregations around reefs and rocky areas with high stock densities after ranching. However, most of the other fish groups exhibited lower densities in the marine ranching area, while they showed higher densities outside the marine ranching area. Thus, it would be necessary to take appropriate holistic management actions based on the ecosystem-based approach to keep the ranching ecosystem healthy and to maintain the fishery production of the ecosystem at the maximum sustainable level.