| Summary: | From 9 January to 24 April, four vessels participated in the capelin investigations in the Barents Sea and along the coast of Finnmark. Part of the immature capelin stock was distributed from Bear Island to approximately 35°E, while the rest was found south of 73°N and east of 30°E. In this southern area the immature capelin were dominated by the 1979 year-class. The mature fish migrated towards Finnmark in two separate influxes. One reached the western coast in the last days of January and the other which was more abundant, reached the Varangerfjord area in the middle of February. The 1976 year-class made up the majority of the spawning stock. The age composition was approximately the same in the two influxes, but the western consisted of fish with shortest mean lengths. The main spawning area was found off Vardø, but spawning had also taken place as far west as off Arnøy in West Finnmark. The hydrographical situation was different from the situation during the same period in 1979. Slightly higher temperatures were observed, indicating that more Atlantic water had entered the Barents Sea than in recent years.
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