Iceland’s Marine Research Institute has announced that results from its capelin research are now complete.
The results indicate that the quota for the 2015/16 capelin season should be 173,000 tonnes, according to the catch regulation adopted last year that is aimed at a 95% likelihood of a 150,000 tonne stock remaining behind to spawn.
According to the Institute, the catch regulation takes into account a variety of variables, capelin growth and mortality rates, as well as estimated predation on capelin by other species such as cod, haddock and saithe.
The 173,000 tonne figure included catches that have already been landed so far this season.
Research vessels Árni Friðriksson and Bjarni Sæmundsson took part in an extensive survey starting on the 4th of January and concluding on the 21st, along with commercial fishing vessels Sighvatur Bjarnason, Sigurður and Jóna Eðvalds, across a wide area to the north of Iceland. The survey area stretched from the Denmark Strait to waters east of Iceland. The survey results indicate a stock of 675,000 tonnes.
