| Summary: | The stock is still at a low level, after having collapsed in 2001 for the third time in 20 years (Figure 1.4.1.1). The cause is probably an intense predation pressure from large year classes of herring in the southern Barents Sea. During autumn 2006 relatively large amounts of capelin 0-group were found, and if large amounts of these survive, it may be the start of a new rebuilding period of the stock. The adult stock was estimated at only 800 000 tonnes in 2006, and about half of this amount was starting to mature. However, the maturing stock will be reduced to about 200 000 tonnes before spawning in spring 2007. The Norwegian-Russian Fishery Commission has set a harvest control rule stating that to allow fishing, the risk of the spawning stock dropping under 200 000 tonnes should be maximum 5 %. In 2007, the prognoses show that this risk is a bout 50 %, and consequently no fishing will be allowed in 2007.
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