A concept to protect fisheries recruits by seasonal closure during spawning periods for commercial fishes off Taiwan and the East China Sea

The 72 most important commercial fish species as well as nine unidentified fish groups representing hundreds of fish species as the major and minor target species caught in waters off Taiwan and the East China Sea were selected from the ‘Fisheries Yearbook Taiwan Area.’ All available published and grey literature as well as the Fish Database of Taiwan and Fishbase websites were thoroughly reviewed for a total of 108 fish species, including 51 out of 72 major and 57 minor target fish species, on their reproductive periods in waters off Taiwan and the East China Sea. The spawning periods from these commercial fish species were then summarized. An imperative adjustment was recommended for the established fishing season closure, i.e. for an earlier start, from April to June, in the southern East China Sea. This suggested correction corresponded with the spawning period of most fishes so as to maximize the protection of spawning cohorts for at least 68 major and minor target fish species, which would account for over 53% of the total fish yield in Taiwanese offshore fisheries.