Abundance of mackerel in Icelandic waters
MRI research shows that the amount of mackerel in Icelandic waters has remained plentiful. Credit: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
According to research by the MRI, the quantity of mackerel in Icelandic waters is similar to that of the past few years.
The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture says that the outcome is very positive for Iceland, as it shows that the amount of mackerel within Icelandic jurisdiction has not decreased and has remained plentiful.
The Icelandic Marine Research Institute‘s (MRI) survey found mackerel in waters all around Iceland, in varying densities. Juvenile fish were found in two locations off the southwest coast, indicating that these mackerel spawned in Icelandic waters.
The measurements are preliminary results of a 30-day survey by research vessel Árni Friðriksson, which is part of a joint expedition of Iceland, Norway and the Faroes to map the distribution and quantities of principal pelagic species in feeding areas of the Northeast Atlantic. Full processing of the survey data will continue and the main conclusions will be published in a joint report this autumn.
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