The capelin stock assessment is out and while the fish is doing well in some respects, they are still in the critical” zone.

DFO released the stock assessment at a news conference in the White Hills this morning.

The silvery fish are a keystone forage species in the Newfoundland and Labrador ecosystem for various predators including northern cod and have a significant impact on cod biomass.

The capelin biomass has improved over the last 30 years or so, but is still well below the 1985-1990 period.

DFO research scientist Hannah Murphy says the finfish in question are heavier and longer than average, there’s lots of food available for them, and the larval index is higher than it has been in a decade.

The current biomass is 262 kilotonnes but would have to achieve 640 kilotonnes to get out of the critical zone.