Recent changes in migration and distribution of capelin in the Iceland-East Greenland-Jan Mayen area and their effect on managing the fisheries.

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.

Capelin, Mallotus villosus (Müller), in the Iceland-East Greenland-Jan Mayen area is a short lived cold water species and only enters into warm Atlantic water for spawning. Spawning mortality is believed to be almost complete and the fishery is focused on pre-spawning fish, mainly from one year class (age 3). In the beginning of the 2000s a western displacement of the nursery and feeding area occurred. The spawning area, however, has remained the same. Although spawning time remains the same, return migration from the feeding areas in the Iceland Sea occurs 1-2 months later than previously with a resulting delay of the spawning migration. Capelin abundance has also decreased during this period. These changes coincide with climate changes. As consequences of this delayed migration, acoustic assessment of the spawning stock, which is the basis for the final advice on seasonal TAC, has been problematic.