Research Document 2021/055

Assessment of Capelin (Mallotus villosus) in 2J3KL to 2018

By Bourne, C., Murphy, H., Adamack, A., and Lewis, K.

Abstract

The assessment of the 2J3KL Capelin (Mallotus villosus) stock considered data to the fall of 2018. Data from the commercial fishery, inshore larval surveys, multispecies bottom trawl surveys, Capelin acoustic survey and oceanographic monitoring were used to provide biological information and update a Capelin forecast model (Lewis et al. 2019). Following the collapse of this stock in the early 1990s, the spring acoustic survey abundance index declined by an order of magnitude, the size at age of younger Capelin increased, and the average age at maturity decreased from three to four years to predominantly age-2. There has been minimal recovery in the stock since the collapse, although the spring acoustic abundance index increased in 2012-2014 to approximately 25% of the pre-collapse levels. In 2018 the index increased relative to 2017, however it was still only approximately 25% of the post-collapse high of 2014. Most Capelin continue to mature early and the age structure of the stock has become truncated, with substantially fewer fish in older age classes (4-5) and no age-6 individuals being observed in recent years. The forecast model, which incorporates the Capelin larval abundance index, adult Capelin condition in the fall, and the timing of sea ice retreat, predicted that the spring acoustic abundance index would increase in 2019 but likely decrease in 2020, as the larval abundance index has been low for five consecutive years.

Research Document 2021/055 (PDF, 3,009 KB)

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