Capelin in the Barents Sea rarely grows larger than 20 centimeters and 50 grams.
Photo: Jan de Lange / Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.
Zero quota, a halt in fishing to give the stock a better chance to recover as quickly as possible, this is the recommendation of marine scientists for capelin in the Barents Sea in 2025. The last time a similar guidance had been issued was in the 2021 fishing season.
"This year's measurements show that survival rates have been very poor for capelin—both for the one-to-two-year age group and the two-to-three-year age group. The mortality rate is comparable to what was measured in 2003 and 2014, both of which marked the beginning of periods with low stock levels," explained Georg Skaret, marine scientist and stock manager for capelin at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.
Capelin is a key species in the Barents Sea ecosystem and serves as food for many other species, including cod. Short-lived, it dies soon after spawning and rarely lives more than five years, so its abundance, distribution, and growth vary significantly from year to year.
Thus, while for 2025 the recommendation is zero quota, the fishing agreement between Norway and Russia for the Barents Sea for 2024 reduced the fishing quotas for species such as cod or haddock but guaranteed the highest capelin quota in the area since 2018, 196,000 tons, of which 117,550 tons went to Norway.
Since measurements of the capelin population in the Barents Sea began in 1972, researchers have observed three clear periods of collapse, in which the population remained at very low levels for at least four years.
Over the past 10 years, the capelin population has shown fluctuations over shorter periods than previously. This year's stock level marks the third time in 10 years that it has been below a harvestable level.
The Norwegian-Russian ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea is the primary source of knowledge about the capelin stock, and this year, despite unstable weather, there was good coverage of it. The key feeding areas around Storbanken were well covered and only the shelf west of Svalbard, where capelin might be expected, was not surveyed.
According to stock manager for capelin at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, "The extensive coverage provides a strong data foundation for the quota recommendation."
"Historically, capelin in the Barents Sea has shown a strong ability to rebound quickly after low periods," Skaret explained. "Today's capelin management is designed to account for the potentially vulnerable and low periods that the stock experiences, in addition to the key role capelin plays in the Barents Sea ecosystem."
As mentioned, this is the recommendation of marine scientists, but the final quota for capelin in the Barents Sea will be determined at this week's meeting (October 21-25) of the Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission.