The recovery of the Barents Sea capelin (Mallotus villosus) from a larval point of view

Abstract

The recovery of the Barents Sea Capelin is studied with larval surveys in the period 1986-91. Very few larvae were found in 1986,1987 and 1988, but the abundance of capelin larvae increased from 1989 back to the normal larval "stock size" found in the early eighties. In 1990 the highest recorded indice of abundance for the period 1981-1990 was found. Distribution maps and abundance indices of capelin larvae are presented. Length frequency distributions of the larvae are shown. The vertical distribution of larvae from a diurnal station is given. These data are discussed with respect to the variations in physical and biological parameters the Barents Sea ecosystem observed in the period.