Surveys on Squid Jigging in the High Sea of Northwest Pacific Ocean

Surveys conducted between 2021 and 2023 by R/V Songhang, Shanghai Ocean University's pelagic fishery resources survey vessel, revealed that the predominant squid species in the Northwest Pacific Ocean were Boreal clubhook squid, Boreopacific armhook squid, Neon flying squid, and Luminous flying squid. Except for the neon flying squid, the other three squid species are bycatches for squid jigging. Catch data of R/V Songhang between 2021 and 2023 were mapped in this report to illustrate the fishery status. Basic Biological Characteristics of those squid species, including the mantle length (ML) composition, Body weight (BW) composition, ML-BW relationship, and the sexual maturity composition of three species, were also detailed in this report. Neon flying squid, the species found to be the most abundant in surveys, had a high concentration of immature individuals, while the ratio of mature and immature females to males in Boreopacific armhook squid was 1:1, and the ratio of mature females to immature males in Boreal clubhook squid was 78% and 80%, respectively. As China gradually improves and stabilizes the survey for NFS, the R/V Songhang's independent fisheries biology information will be provided as the basis for the NFS stock assessment.