In the absence of defined reference points and an accepted assessment the status of the stock cannot be fully evaluated. The stock has been at a low level for several years and it is a long-lived species, which can only sustain low exploitation. Indications from fishery independent surveys are that the stock has increased in recent years (Figure 4.3.25). During the last 15 years, average catches h...

The stock size is increasing. The spawning stock (Figure 4.3.26) of capelin in 2009 is predicted from the acoustic survey in September 2008 and a model, which estimates maturity, growth and mortality (including predation by cod). The model takes account of uncertainties both in the survey estimate and in other input data. For catch levels in spring 2009, below 390,000 t, the probability of having ...

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB and fishing mortality, ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably. The 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004 year classes dominate the current spawning stock which is estimated to 12.6 million t in 2009. Preliminary indications show that the year classes 2005-2008 are below average.  Therefore the abundance of herrin...

The polar cod stock is presently at a high level (Figure 4.3.28). Norway took some catches of polar cod in the 1970s and Russia has fished on this stock more or less on a regular basis since 1970. The stock size has been measured acoustically since 1986 and the stock has fluctuated between 0.1-1.9 million t. In 2008, the stock size was measured to about 1.2 million t., which is equal to the estima...