A small forage fish of Arctic waters. Major prey for many seabirds and marine mammals.

Also called: Capelin, Lodde (Norwegian)

Native status: Native to North Atlantic and Arctic

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 15–25 cm
Weight15–50 g
LifespanWild 3–8 years
OrderOsmeriformes
FamilyOsmeridae

§ Encyclopedia

The capelin or caplin is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic oceans. In summer, it grazes on dense swarms of plankton at the edge of the ice shelf. Larger capelin also eat a great deal of krill and other crustaceans. Among others, whales, seals, Atlantic cod, Atlantic mackerel, squid and seabirds prey on capelin, in particular during the spawning season while the capelin migrate south. Capelin spawn on sand and gravel bottoms or sandy beaches at the age of two to six years. When spawning on beaches, capelin have an extremely high post-spawning mortality rate which, for males, is close to 100%. Males reach 20 cm (8 in) in length, while females are up to 25.2 cm (10 in) long. They are olive-coloured dorsally, shading to silver on sides. Males have a translucent ridge on both sides of their bodies. The ventral aspects of the males iridesce reddish at the time of spawn.

Source: Wikipedia — Capelin Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Slender silvery-olive fish with deeply forked tail; small adipose fin; rough scales (males develop "ridge" of enlarged scales when spawning).

Similar species. Smelts (different scale pattern). Sand lance (no adipose fin). Sardines (different family).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Copepods, krill, small zooplankton.

Behavior. Crucial Arctic/sub-Arctic forage fish; supports vast populations of cod, halibut, humpback whales, harp seals, seabirds. Famous "rolling" spawning behavior on Newfoundland beaches each summer — tens of millions of fish ride waves onto the sand to spawn in unison. Major commercial fishery focused on roe ("masago" sushi topping). Climate shifts have caused dramatic stock movements; capelin reaching Arctic waters never recorded there before.

§ Range

North Atlantic and Arctic

§ Habitat

Cold ocean waters

§ Threats

Climate change.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the capelin is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • NOAA Fisheries
  • ICES Capelin Working Group
  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • IUCN Red List 2017