The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says they are seeing positive trends for the capelin stock for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The latest stock assessment was released yesterday.

The capelin biomass increased in 2025 from 2024, and it was above its limit reference point, reaching its highest levels in a decade.

DFO believes that warming ocean temperatures have supported better feeding conditions for capelin, and predators are eating more of the species – which indicates that there are more of them in the water.

The outlook for the stock for next year is positive as well.

Stock assessment biologist Dr. Ron Lewis says the abundance of capelin will positively impact species that feed on them.

He says increased capelin numbers between 2013-2015 coincided with a “swell” in finfish biomass.

He says the “surge” in capelin can be directly linked to cod. “When there are more capelin in the system, cod are generally doing better, and as cod do (better) generally, so does everything else.”