Norwegian scientists recommend abolishing capelin fishing quotas by 2025

The Marine Research Institute (IMR) has recommended a decrease in the capelin fishing quota for 2025 in the Barents Sea, in response to a significant drop in the capelin population and record-high mortality rates. The final decision on the quota will be made by the Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Committee. The IMR's findings, which show a decline in capelin biomass over the past two years and the population at its third-lowest level in a decade, are based on a scientific survey despite challenging weather conditions. Capelin populations in the Barents Sea have historically shown resilience and quick recovery after population declines, attributed to the superior marine ecosystem and scientific management.

IMR researcher Georg Skaret said: "The results of this year's capelin survey were unexpected. The survival rate in the Barents Sea was very low. Whether it was 1-2 years old or 2-3 years old, the mortality data hit a new high, approaching the lows of 2003 and 2014. Moreover, the biomass of capelin in the Barents Sea has also been declining year by year in the past two years." "Therefore, the Marine Research Institute recommends a capelin fishing quota for 2025, with the aim of giving the population a chance to recover. The last time the capelin quota was cancelled in the Barents Sea was in 2021." Skaret said. The final quota for capelin in the Barents Sea will be decided by the Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Committee, which will meet from October 21 to 25. IMR Research The researchers also mentioned that the scientific survey faced bad weather. Despite this, the survey results this year covered the population of capelin in most parts of the Barents Sea well. Only the continental ...