Abstract:Fish-scale-deposition amount (SDA) of 47 surface sediment samples and 6 sediment cores from central Yellow Sea, changjiang estuary, fujian and zhejiang coastal area have been investigated in this study, to reveal fish-scale-deposition information and spatial distribution in typical fishery sea area. This study proved the feasibility of applying fish-scale-deposition rates (SDR) to trace fish population dynamic changes in China typical fishery sea area. Results showed that the species composition of fish-scale-deposition in central yellow sea was simple. Anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and small yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) were the major fish in Yellow Sea. In surface sediment anchovy made up 75.0% and small yellow croaker made up 25.0%. The positions where found scales, distributed on northwest and southeast edge of central Yellow Sea approximately, and SDA was high around 10594 position (34°59.9′N, 122°29.9′E) and 12694 position (33°59.9′N, 123°59.0′E). The vertical distributions of SDA of 3 positions in central Yellow Sea were inhomogeneous with depth increasing. The same change trend and an obvious identical abundance peak of SDA appeared in the vertical distributions of 3 positions in central Yellow Sea. In changjiang estuary SDA per unit volume was lower than that in central yellow sea, and the species composition of fish-scale-deposition was complex. 68.1% scales were identified in changjiang estuary surface sediment; small yellow croaker, acropoma japonicum and anchovy were the major fish, made up 29.2%, 12.5% and 8.3%respectively. The positions where found scales, distributed along central Zhoushan Fishing Ground and paralleled to the coastal line approximately. SDA was high around H-28 position (28°09.1′N, 122°55.3′E). The vertical distributions of SDA in changjiang estuary were irregular, but the same change trend and the major fish that had continuous change trend, did not appear in the vertical distributions of 3 positions. Compared with changjiang estuary, central Yellow Sea is the more appropriate study area for applying SDR to trace fish population dynamic changes.