Predation by juvenile herring (Clupea harengus L.) on Barents Sea capelin (Mallotus villosus Muller) larvae

Abstract

In years with high abundance of juvenile Norwegian spring spawning herring in the Barents sea, the year-class strength of capelin has frequently been observed to be poor. It has therefore been suggested that predation by herring is an important determinant of year-class strength for capelin. In order to study predation by herring on capelin larvae, stomachs of herring were collected in areas of spatial overlap between herring and capelin larvae in 1992 and 1993. Based on the results of the investigations in these two years, a simple model was used to estimate the impact of predation by herring on capelin larvae through the years 1983-1992. It is concluded that it is likely that predation by herring is the explanation for the poor recruitment of capelin observed in years when rich year-classes of juvenile herring are distributed in the southern Barents Sea.