NOAA Scientists Find Pacific Capelin Can Spawn Multiple Times, Upending Assumptions About Key Forage

New research from NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center has found the first evidence that Pacific capelin are capable of repeat spawning — a discovery that could meaningfully change how scientists assess the population resilience of one of the most ecologically important forage fish in Alaska's marine ecosystem.
Capelin were previously understood to follow a pattern similar to Pacific salmon: spawning once and dying. The new study, published August 12, found that many Pacific capelin can in fact spawn in multiple seasons (iteroparity), suggesting the species may be...
To Read Full Story Login Below.