Capelin

Capelin is a small, slender forage fish in the smelt family, scientifically known as Mallotus villosus.

Capelin is a small, slender forage fish in the smelt family, scientifically known as Mallotus villosus. It lives in cold waters of the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic oceans and is an important prey species in marine food webs. In Canada, capelin is especially associated with Newfoundland and Labrador, where it is also harvested for food and roe.

Taxonomy and naming

Capelin is a smelt in the family Osmeridae. The species is commonly called capelin in English and capelan in French, and its scientific name is Mallotus villosus.

Distribution and habitat

Capelin occurs in cold waters of the northern hemisphere, including the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic oceans. It is a marine, pelagic species found from coastal waters to the open ocean.

Life history and ecology

Capelin is a small, slender schooling fish that feeds on zooplankton. It is an important forage fish for cod, seabirds, and marine mammals, making it ecologically significant in northern food webs.

Human use

Capelin has been used as food for humans and domestic animals, as bait in fisheries, and as agricultural fertilizer. Its roe is also commercially valued and exported in some markets.

In Canada

Canadian fisheries and marine agencies identify capelin as a key species in Atlantic and Arctic ecosystems, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador. Canadian sources also note management measures for harvest and the importance of capelin to local culture and fisheries.