Conservation group concerned about decline in capelin abundance in N.L.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A national conservation organization said Friday it is “deeply concerned” about a 70 per cent decline in capelin abundance over the last two years in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The World Wildlife Fund Canada said in a statement that while environmental factors are driving the decline, it cannot rule out fishing as another factor.
“A 70 per cent drop in capelin stock is deeply disturbing,” the release said. “The fact remains that these little fish, on which so many other species depend, are vulnerable to overfishing which can exacerbate the rate of decline, especially at critical population levels.”
The department said due to limitations with its surveys, the Fisheries Department cannot accurately estimate the total number of capelin in the water, and therefore cannot conclude with certainty the impact fishing has had on the stock.