The dynamics of population fecundity in Barents Sea capelin

Abstract

The number of eggs spawned during the spawning season is presumed to be an important factor in determining future year-class strength and, therefore, there is value in looking for the relationship between recruitment and the size of the spawning stock. Data on abundance, length and age composition, maturity ogives, and individual fish fecundity were used for calculating population fecundity (PF) for Barents Sea capelin, Mallotus villosus (Müller), for the period spanning the early 1970s to present, and for evaluating factors affecting PF. These were combined with recruitment data to calculate the optimum size of the spawning stock that would maintain it in a stable condition.