This is potentially the largest capelin stock in the world. The stock size has, however, varied significantly over the past 35 years, which is the period where we have estimated the stock size. The variation is primarily caused by natural ecosystem changes, above all sporadic presence of north east cod and young herring in the area. The north east cod feeds on the capelin when it moves towards the shore to spawn. While Iin presence of herring, the recruitment of capelin fails, apparently because herring graze heavily on the capelin larvae.
Fisheries follow a big dipper route
The capelin landings were below 100 000 tons up to 1962, but increased significantly in the middle of 1960s, peaking at 3 million tons in 1977. The fishery was closed from 1987 to 1990, when the stock collapsed. It was reopened on a recovered stock in 1991, but was closed again from 1994 to 1998 when the stock dwindled once more. The same situation occurred in 2004, when the stock collapsed for the third time during a twenty years period.
Prior to the first stock collapse, the fishery took place annually during two seasons; on the pre-spawning aggregations in coastal areas during springtime, and in the feeding areas in the central and northern Barents Sea during autumn. In recent years, all fishing has taken place on pre-spawning concentrations near the coast during the winter season.
The Norwegian fishery is mainly a purse seine fishery, but some vessels use pelagic trawl when the stock gets close to the shore. Historically, the capelin was used mainly for fish meal and fish oil production. Only a small amount was prepared for human consumption on the Japanese market, mainly females containing roe. In recent years, most of the landings (79 % in 2010) have been used for human consumption.
Technical regulations of the fishery
The fishery has been regulated both by closed seasons, closed areas, minimum mesh size and minimum landing size. During winter, areas are opened and closed based on observations of by-catch of herring and cod.
Stock status and setting of quotas
The capelin stock is assessed by the ICES Arctic Fisheries Working Group, using an assessment model specially designed for this stock. The model takes into consideration the capelin consumed by cod during the period between the time of the survey when the capelin stock is measured in autumn, until spawning in late spring.
Over the past years, there has been an increase of the capelin stock.. A quota of 360 000 tons was set for the winter 2010 fishery.