Dynamics of Suitable Habitat of Ommastrephes bartramii in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Abstract:

Neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) is a short-lived species with high economic value and important ecological status. The study of squid resources plays an important role in the development of Chinese offshore fisheries. Based on the data from the Northwest Pacific squid fishery and sea surface temperature (SST) data from August to October of 20052016, and the habitat suitability index (HSI) model established by the predecessors, the size of the squid's habitat was correlated with catch per unit of fishing effort (CPUE) and the catch. We found that the average area of suitable habitat (HSI>0.6) was the largest in 2015, reaching 1,087,369 km2. In 2008, the average suitable habitat area was the smallest (618,407.5 km2). The suitable habitat distribution in the selected area can effectively reflect the resource distribution of the squid; however, there is no significant correlation between the size of the suitable habitat area and the catch and CPUE (P>0.05). The reasons may be as follows (1) the concentration of squid fishing vessels resulting in single-vessel catches that do not characterize the CPUE; (2) large-scale climate change, particularly El Niño and La Niña, affecting squid resources; (3) changes in Kuroshio and Tide also affect the amount of squid resources.