Best way to study fish identifcation?

[chachee99]

I want to begin studying aquatic taxonomy and fish identification. I want to do this so I can identify and attemp to different aquatic life in the ocean. Not only and I interested in learning the comon names, but I would like to know the species, genius and family of different aquatic life in the ocean. However, I live in South Korea and there is no books about Korean marine life. So, I have to start from scratch.

Do you have any suggestions on how to begin studying marine life? My knowledge data base is extremely limited. I am basically a newbie at fish identification regarding recognizing different species. Are there any websites or books you would recogmend for beginners?

I have an underwater camera with a few hundred pictures of different marine life. I can use those as study material for practice. I have also thought about posting a few pics in the "name that fish" board. Bear in mind that many will be blatenly obvious to most divers.


If you have some advice, please post a comment.

Thanks,

Chachee99

 

[perdidochas]

I would imagine a book on Japanese sea life would be useful, as you are fairly close-by. The best thing is to learn the families of fish, since, for the most part, the species within a family have the same general shape and style of living (yes, there are exceptions).

 

[Wookie]

I don't know where you dive, or which fish you'd like to study, but the books by New World Publications are the bomb when it comes to fish ID. Here is a link to the tropical Pacific book: Reef Fish Identification:Tropical Pacific by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach []

 

[azchipka]

REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) offers a wonder base for gain fish identification education.

 

[Ocean Rehab]

Maybe contact this person?:
from Reef Check Micronesia,

Chuuk
Dr. Heung-Sik Park
Director
Korea-South Pacific Ocean Research Center
Weno, Chuuk State
F.S.M.
E-mail: hspark@kordi.re.kr