Satellite images of sea surface temperature (SST) in each sampling month were used to evaluate the interaction of various water masses in and around the study area (Fig. 3). The images indicate that the cold CCC water mass was in fluencing the study area from October to April (Fig. 3a ande). The CCC waters occupied the coastal areas of northern Taiwan during the NE monsoon season (Fig. 3b andf). The warm KC water mass from north eastern Taiwan intruded the study area ; concurrently, the CCC water mass progressed to the northern area of Mainland China (Fig. 3c). The mean SST around Taiwan peaked at 30 °C during the SW monsoon