Iceland’s Marine Research Institute has advised a zero capelin quota for the 2020-21 season.
The advice is based on a research carried out by the Institute’s Árni Friðriksson and Norwegian pelagic vessel Eros which surveyed fishing grounds over a wide area, covering seas areas between Iceland, along the coast of East Greenland and as far as Jan Mayen.
Capelin was found over a wide area. Sea ice hampered survey work, including in areas where capelin was found, so that the Institute states that the volume of adult capelin could have been under-estimated.
A million tonnes were identified, of which the 2020-21 stock was put at 344,000 tonnes. 734,000 tonnes of juvenile capelin, or 146 billion individuals, are estimated, and this figure needs to reach 150 billion before a quota can be allocated.
ICES will provide its own recommendations at the end of November.
The current catch rule requires that there is a 95% likelihood of 150,000 tonnes of capelin remaining to spawn, taking into account uncertainties in calculation, capelin growth and mortality rates, and predation on the stock.
Taking these factors into account, the Marine Research Institute has advised against a quota being set. This advice will be re-examined in January/February.
