ENHANCING THE FUNCTION OF A COLD REGION FISHING PORT AS A FEEDING GROUND FOR AQUATIC ORGANISMS

Abstract

 This study was conducted to gather basic information on ways to increase surface area of organism-adhering substrates per unit volume, focused on benthic primary producers, in order to enhance the function of a cold region fishing port as a feeding ground for marine organisms. Test specimens (organism-adhering substrates) were placed under various conditions (e.g., in gaps, in different positions, using different materials) in a port to study the adhering organisms, zooplankton and fish. The results were similar under all conditions, with microalgae and adhering animals found on the surface of specimens. The amount of zooplankton found around specimens exceeded that in the water column. Annelids and arthropods, which are thought to be food for fish, were dominant in the taxa of adhering animals and zooplankton. These results suggest that, by adding adhering substrates and increasing their surface area, primary producers per unit volume of the water column will increase, enhancing the feeding ground function of the benthic ecosystem.