Pacific flying squid is the most abundant species of squid in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The paper is devoted to the study of characteristics of biology and distribution of feeding schools of Pacific squid in summer and autumn in Peter the Great’s Bay. The paper uses the data collected from the research survey in Peter the Great’s Bay in the summer and autumn of 2009-2010. The cruise took place from June to October; the survey was performed twice a month according to the standard scheme of the stations. The samples were caught at night. Biological analysis of squids was carried out with the help of standard methods commonly used to study squids. At that the dorsal mantle length, the weight of individual squids, the sex and stages of maturity and the stomach content were determined. Visually the composition of food was identified. During the summer-autumn period the habitat of the Pacific squid in the Sea of Japan covers Peter the Great Bay completely. In 2009 the Pacific squid was presented as individuals with mantle length from 7 to 29 cm, at an average 22.5 cm. The weight of individual squids ranged from 50 to 550 g, on the average 244,3 g (1115 samples were analyzed). In 2010 individuals with mantle length from 4 to 29 cm were found in the catches, at an average 21,8 cm. The weight of individuals ranged from 10 to 600 g, on the average 252,5 (709 samples were analyzed). The analysis of structure and dynamics of the size and mass characteristics of the Pacific squid suggests that during summer and autumn the representatives of various seasonal intraspecific groups travel to feeding areas in Peter the Great’s Bay. Three size groups of Pacific squid are determined: adult large individuals belonging to the autumn spawning cohort, the representatives of the smaller winter cohort and juveniles, i.e. the generation of spring spawning. The formation of fishery schools of squid in the bay in different years is due to the peculiarities of spawning of the Pacific squid.
Pacific flying squid, length, weight, sex ratio, maturity stages of gonads
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