Successful Laboratory Rearing of Capelin Achieved

Capelin larvae 39 days post-hatch. The three largest larvae are approximately 21 mm in length, while the smallest is 16 mm. The larger larvae fed on artemia, whereas the smallest larva feeds on rotifers.

Scientists at the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute have successfully reared capelin from hatch to adulthood in a laboratory setting for the first time. Capelin eggs were fertilized aboard the fishing vessel Vikingur AK 100 and transported to the Aquaculture Research Station in Grindavík, where the larvae hatched 30 days later.

Shorter growth time in labratory

Using intensive aquaculture methods, the capelin showed a remarkably steady growth and reached maturity as early as one year after hatching. By their second year, growth slowed, and the capelin reached their maximum length of 18.4 cm in just 2.6 years, which is a significantly shorter time compared to their wild Icelandic counterparts.

This study provides valuable insights into the growth dynamics and biology of this ecologically important species and lays a foundation for future research on all life stages of capelin. While capelin are sensitive to handling, their short lifespan makes them a promising species for laboratory research.

Further studies involving laboratory reared capelin are ongoing and are expected to be published in near future.

The newly published study, Cultivation and Growth Dynamics of Capelin (Mallotus villosus) from Hatch to Adulthood, can be accessed here.

A YouTube video showing glimpses of the culture process is available here.