Minister of Fisheries Jón Bjarnason will issue a regulation today to increase the capelin fishing quota in Icelandic waters by 20,000 tons in compliance with a proposal made by the Icelandic Marine Research Institute yesterday.
Capelin. Copyright: Icelandic Photo Agency.
The institute’s research indicates that there are 505,000 tons of spawning capelin in Icelandic waters. Before the latest research, 45,000 tons of capelin had been caught, so the estimated size of the fish stock, including the catch, is 550,000 tons, Fréttabladid reports.
According to existing fishing regulations, 400,000 tons of spawning capelin should be left uncaught and therefore the institute suggested a maximum catch of 150,000 tons, up by 20,000 tons from its original recommendation.
Bjarnason said the capelin is at the prime stage now, full of roe and therefore very valuable. By increasing the quota, roe sale agreements can be made.
Of the 20,000 tons of quota issued, Icelandic fishermen are entitled to 18,000 tons, the remaining quota will go to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The Icelandic catch is estimated to be worth ISK 1.5 billion (USD 11.6 million, EUR 8.6 million).
Click here to read more about capelin fishing in Iceland.
