Icelandic fishing vessel operators’ federation SFS is offering to fund capelin survey work between now and the end of the year to the tune of ISK65,000,000 (€418,000) to establish the state of the capelin stock ahead of the coming winter season.
Capelin surveys have been fraught in the past, taking place at the most difficult time of the year as research vessels and leased fishing vessels try to identify the shape of the rapidly changing capelin migration that brings these heavy shoals of fish to make their way around Iceland, finishing the season normally in February or March off the south coast.
For the last two years surveys have not returned sufficiently positive results for a capelin quota to be allocated, representing a significant loss of activity and revenue for the pelagic sector.
Survey work generally takes place in January, but so far this year Greenlandic pelagic vessel Polar Amaroq has already carried out a preliminary survey in November, and SFS is keen to see further research take place i December.
‘SFS took the initiative and in co-operation with the Marine Research Institute a survey was carried out with one vessel in November and samples were taken. The results from these samples provide strong indications of a good migration in Icelandic waters,’ an SFS spokesperson said.
‘The Institute is planning the next capelin survey in January 2021. The time frame for winter survey work is short and at a time of the year when weather can be challenging. The risk is that results could be insufficient to justify advising for a capelin fishery. Capelin move fast and its behaviour is unpredictable. It could be present earlier than in the previous two years.’
As a result, SFS is offering to fund a capelin survey in December, with a support fund deep enough to keep four vessels at sea for up to 24 days, including indexing and covering the Institute’s staff costs.
‘A good capelin season can produce export values of around ISK30 billion, with a correspondingly positive effect on the economy as a whole. It’s SFS’s hope that by supporting a capelin search and survey effort, we can ensure a robust response to the economic downturn that Coronavirus has caused.’
A good capelin season is a boost to the Icelandic economy as a whole. Image: Hafro
