Scientists at Iceland’s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI) advise that with the application of the harvest control rule agreed by the Coastal States, there should be a zero capelin catch for the winter season of 2023/24.
This recommendation is in line with the existing initial advice based on acoustic surveys of immature capelin in the autumn 2022. This advice is based on results from an acoustic survey of the capelin stock by Icelandic research vessel Árni Friðriksson and Greenlandic research vessel Tarajoq conducted between 23rd August and 23rd September this year.
The advice will be revised based on results of acoustic measurements of the fishable stock in early 2024.
The acoustic survey is considered to have covered the distribution area of the stock. Drift ice prevented coverage in the northernmost part of the survey area, but it is considered unlikely that capelin were present in the skipped area. The survey estimate had low coefficient of variation (CV=0.23) as the capelin was relatively evenly distributed.
The total biomass is estimated at 697,000 tonnes, of which the volume of the spawning stock is put at to 325,000 tonnes.
The estimated amount of juveniles was 48 billion individuals, but a figure of more than 50 billion is required to provide anything other than a zero-catch preliminary recommendation according to the HCR for the fishing season 2024/25. The results of the juvenile measurements will be presented within ICES, which will give advice on TAC for capelin for the fishing season 2024/25 later.
