DFO has released its capelin stock update for area 2J3KL off the province’s northeast coast.
The department is providing an update this year, instead of a full stock assessment based on some limitations in collecting data last season.
DFO is suggesting a cautious approach to the management of the fishery, given the species’ significant ecological role.
(Via DFO Science.)
The department says while it observed a mostly positive environment for capelin production in 2021, low larval productivity suggests continued low stock productivity.
Among the favourable conditions were the earliest beach spawning activity since the 1980s, good fall capelin condition, increased consumption of capelin, high numbers of age-2 capelin in the partial acoustic and fall multispecies surveys, and warming ocean trends with earlier spring blooms, along with increased abundance of crustaceans on which the capelin feed.
Among the new data reviewed was the capelin larval index, a fall bottom trawl survey, partial acoustic survey in June and commercial landings and samples.
The full stock update can be viewed below.
