Capelin Mallotus villosus

Advice 2024/2025

8 589

tonnes

Advice 2023/2024

0

tonnes

Advice change

Publication of Advice: 20. February 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.


Advice

MFRI advises that when the agreed management plan is applied, catches in the fishing year 2024/2025 should be no more than 8 589 tonnes.

Stock development

Projected lower 5% quartile stock size in 2025 is above Blim.

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 Thous. tonnes J a n − M a r J u n − S e p O c t − D e c Catches 0 50 100 150 200 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 Billions J u v e n i l e i n d e x B l i m 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 Million tonnes Biomass

Capelin. Catches, acoustic index for immatures from autumn surveys, and SSB at spawning time (with 90% confidence). Estimate of stock size for 2025 (dot) is based on projections.

Basis of the advice and reference points*

Prognosis

Capelin. Assumptions made for the interim year and in the forecast.

Capelin. Projection of SSB (tonnes) based on adopted harvest control rule.

Quality of the Assessment

The fish stock size is based on both autumn (weighted 1/3) and winter measurements (weighted 2/3), both of which are considered to have covered the stock’s distribution area. The results of these measurements were similar. The winter measurement is based on the results of January surveys for the area east of Kolbeinsey Ridge (CV=0.36) and February surveys for the western area (CV=0.33).

Other information

It was necessary to revise the calibration of one of the participating vessels the autumn survey after the last advice was published in October 2024. This led to the revision of the estimate fishable stock by 10 thousand tonnes. This correction would not have lead to a change in the advice given in October 2024.

Advice, TAC and Catch

Capelin. Recommended TAC, national TAC, and catches.

References and further reading

ICES. 2023. Benchmark workshop on capelin (WKCAPELIN). ICES Scientific Reports. 5:62. 282 pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.23260388

MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Capelin. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 20 February 2025.