Unusual Fish Assemblages Associated with Environmental Changes in the East China Sea in February and March 2017

Abstract

Two large fish assemblages were recorded in the overwintering fishing grounds of the East China Sea in February and March 2017. In this study, available time series of satellite-derived sea surface temperature, wind, chlorophyll a, and reanalysis data were used to explore the relationships between the observed large fish aggregations and environmental factors. The bottom waters of the fishing grounds were abnormally warm in winter 2017, and then experienced significant cooling due to the eastward movement of the Yellow Sea Cold Current, which was driven by the increased northwesterly wind from January to mid-March 2017. Fishing areas in the affected region, including No. 1891, which was abnormally warm, and No. 1592, which had a strong thermal front and high chlorophyll a concentration, might have provided suitable environments for the warm-temperature fish, resulting in the observed large fish assemblages. The abnormal temperature changes between winter and early spring 2017 may have been associated with changes in local ocean circulation.