LACK OF CAPELIN RESULTS IN MONTHLY FALL IN ICELANDIC FISH LANDINGS

Lack of capelin results in monthly fall in Icelandic fish landings. The catch of Icelandic vessels was 60 thousand tonnes in March 2024 which is 77% less than in March 2023. There was a decrease in landing of nearly all species. The largest change was the lack of capelin catch in 2024.

In the 12 month period from April 2023 to March 2024 the catch was just under 1.1 million tonnes which is a 26% decrease from the previous 12 month period. This was mainly due to no capelin catch.

Information about catch of fish which are published here are preliminary figures. The data is gathered by the Directorate of Fisheries.

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Capelin

Capelin populations in the Barents Sea and around Iceland perform extensive seasonal migrations. Barents Sea capelin migrate during winter and early spring to the coast of northern Norway (Finnmark) and the Kola Peninsula (Russia) for spawning. During summer and autumn, capelin migrate north- and north-eastward for feeding.

Icelandic capelin move inshore in large schools to spawn and migrate in spring and summer to feed in the plankton-rich oceanic area between Iceland, Greenland, and Jan Mayen. Capelin distribution and migration is linked with ocean currents and water masses. Around Iceland, maturing capelin usually undertake extensive northward feeding migrations in spring and summer, and the return migration takes place in September to November. The spawning migration starts from north of Iceland in December to January. In 2009, researchers from Iceland made an interacting particle model of the capelin stock around Iceland, successfully predicting the spawning migration route for the previous year.

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