小黄鱼是中、日、韩三国共同利用的跨界洄游型经济种，黄海南部沿岸到济州岛海域是其重要的分布区。目前研究水域间小黄鱼群体的关联性以及我国黄海沿岸起源的资源对国际渔业共管水域资源量的补充程度非常困难，传统的捕捞调查、形态学及现代分子技术等方法很难解决。基于前期有效的耳石微化学研究结果，本项目拟综合运用电子探针微区分析、激光烧蚀等离子电感耦合质谱分析以及稳定同位素比质谱分析等前沿手段，通过破译保存于捕自黄海南部沿岸和国际渔业共管水域中小黄鱼的耳石（特别是对应孵化地/产卵场的核心）中来自生境的元素/稳定同位素“指纹”信息，系统探索和破解上述水域间小黄鱼群体的洄游模式、群体的关联性、出生地溯源等资源动态之谜，验证黄海南部沿岸起源的小黄鱼将对远岸的国际渔业共管水域资源量的补充有着重要作用的假说，以期从新角度为即将实施的海洋品种限额捕捞制度和国际渔业谈判中关于这种跨界洄游性鱼类的管理提供理论依据。

Larimichthys polyactis is a straddling migratory fish and high economic fishery species in China, Korea, and Japan. The area between the coastal water of the southern Yellow Sea and Jeju Island is very important distribution water for L. polyactis. So far, it has been very difficult to reveal the connectivity among the stocks of this fish in the aforementioned area and recruitment degree of L. polyactis originated from the coastal water of the southern Yellow Sea in China to offshore international co-management fishery area by means of the methods of capture survey, morphological identification and molecular study. Based on our effective pilot study of otolith microchemistry, the precision, advanced approaches of electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS), and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) will be applied integratedly in this study to innovatively interpret the habitat “fingerprint” patterns of the "target" elements/stable isotopes within otolith (especially otolith core which coincide with the habitat of hatchery/spawning site), so as to investigate and solve the mystery on migration patterns, stock connectivity, and natal site traceability of L. polyactis, and verify the hypothesis of that L. polyactis recruitment originated from the Chinese coastal water of the southern Yellow Sea will obviously contribute to the resource quantity in offshore international co-management fishery area. All results of this study must provide, in a unique perspective, the important theoretical bases for the coming implement of fishing quota system and further international fisheries negotiations on more effective management of this straddling migratory fish.