Profile updated on 24 January 2023
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
IDENTIFICATION
SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)
Mallotus villosus
SPECIES NAME(s)
Capelin
Barent Sea capelin are geographically isolated and considered to be a single stock, with some small local populations in the fjords of Northern Norway (Olsen et al. 2010; ICES 2015). Stock assessment and advice covers ICES Subareas 1 and 2, excluding Division 2a West of 5°W, and employs a multi-species approach, accounting for predation by cod (ICES 2020). As the target stock is semelparous (the majority of fish die after spawning), the fishery is conducted on maturing fish and managed via an escapement strategy (ICES 2015; ICES 2020).
Image: Evermann, B.W. and E.L. Goldsborough, 1907 via Wikimedia
RELATED LINKS:
- Joint Norwegian-Russian Fishery Commission (JNRFC)
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) , Marine Research Institute Iceland, Hafrannsaknastofnun (MFRI) , Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) , Russian Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (PINRO)
ANALYSIS
- The Harvest Control Rule adopted by the JNRFC takes into account the role of capelin as a key prey item for the immature cod, and it is considered by ICES to be precautionary (ICES 2016).
FISHSOURCE SCORES
Management Quality:
≥ 8
10.0
10.0
