Seasonal change in distribution of Conger eel Conger myriaster off the Pacific coast south of Tohoku, north-eastern Japan

Abstract

Seasonal changes were analyzed in the distribution of the conger eel Conger myriaster in the waters south of Tohoku, Japan, from Sendai Bay to the Joban coast, using catch per unit effort data of trawl vessels, and the relationship was examined between distribution and water temperature at 100 m depth, in 1999 and 2000. Although the conger eel was distributed throughout the study area, it was rare north of 37 ∞ 40 ¢ N during February and March in both years. This scarcity corresponded to the occurrence of water colder than 10 ∞ C. Total length, age, gonad somatic index, and condition factor were not significantly different between eels caught north of 37 ∞ 30 ¢ N and those caught south of 36 ∞ N. Therefore, the seasonal change in conger eel distribution within the study area seems to be a seasonal loop migration driven by avoidance of cold water.KEY WORDS: Conger myriaster , CPUE, north-south migration, water temperature.

Population status and distribution of whitespotted conger (Conger myriaster) in Yellow Sea: An important migratory species along coastal China with limited data

“…In the present study, the year effect was not statistically significant, indicating a relatively stable population status of conger during 2011–2017. The monthly variation in relative abundance and distribution of whitespotted conger based on the conclusion of modeling indicated a feeding, wintering, and spawning migration for individuals of different sizes in the survey areas (Mu et al, ; Tokimura, ), which was consistent with the similar study of Katayama, Ishida, Shimizu, and Yamanobe (). The likely movement pattern of whitespotted conger could be inferred from the predicted maps based on the previous studies (Bae et al, ; Zhu, Zhang, & Cheng, ).…”

Age and Growth of Whitespotted Conger Conger myriaster in the Southern Coastal Waters of Korea

“…(Huh and Kwak, 1998;Choi et al, 2008), (Lee and Byun, 1996), (Kim and Ko, 1990), (Yang, 1980) . (Katayama et al, 2002), (Katayama et al, 2004), (Kimura et al, 2004;Mochioka, 2001, Tsukamoto, 2001, (Utoh et al, 2003;Okamura et al, 2000, Utoh, 2001, (Matsumiya and Imai, 1987) .…”

Record body size of the beach conger Conger japonicus (Anguilliformes: Congridae) in the East China Sea

“…In these Conger species, distribution, growth and reproductive ecology of C. myriaster, C. conger, C. oceanicus and C. orbignianus are partly known because of their economic importance (e.g. Richard et al, 1986;Hood et al, 1988;Bell et al, 2003;O'Sullivan et al, 2003;Gorie et al, 2004;Katayama et al, 2004;Correia et al, 2006;Figueroa et al, 2010;Miller et al, 2011;Kurogi et al, 2012). However biology of the other Conger species, including C. japonicus, is poorly known (Katayama & Kurogi, 2008).…”