Fishermen are facing an uphill battle for the capelin catch as humpback whales disrupt the fishing, scattering the capelin schools in Faxaflói bay, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports. According to RÚV most capelin boats have installed equipment to scare whales away in an effort to improve their odds.
Read more: Video: Whale watching boats counted as many as 50 humpback whales off Reykjanes peninsula
The numbers of humpback whales on the capelin grounds in Faxaflói bay have increased dramatically in recent years. In 1987 scientists found only 2,000 individuals in the bay. In 2007 the population in the bay was estimated to be 15,000 animals. While final figures from last year’s count have not been published, evidence suggests the numbers have continued to grow. This has increased the competition between fisheries and the whales, both of whom are after the same catch, including capelin.
Read more: More fin and humpback whales, fewer minke whales by Iceland
Guðlaugur Jónsson, a captain on a capelin boat, told RÚV that the fisheries have been experimenting with various methods to keep the whales at bay. The nets have been fitted with equipment which mimics the sounds of killer whales. These efforts have been only moderately successful. “Whenever we find a school of capelin the whales show up”.
Another fisherman interviewed by RÚV adds that he has never seen as many whales following the capelin. Everyone RÚV talked to say the conditions in Faxaflói were highly unusual and that the whales were behaving in an unexpected manner, some speculating that changing conditions in the sea, due to global climate change, could be to blame.
Fishermen are facing an uphill battle for the capelin catch as humpback whales disrupt the fishing, scattering the capelin schools in Faxaflói bay, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports. According to RÚV most capelin boats have installed equipment to scare whales away in an effort to improve their odds.
Read more: Video: Whale watching boats counted as many as 50 humpback whales off Reykjanes peninsula
The numbers of humpback whales on the capelin grounds in Faxaflói bay have increased dramatically in recent years. In 1987 scientists found only 2,000 individuals in the bay. In 2007 the population in the bay was estimated to be 15,000 animals. While final figures from last year’s count have not been published, evidence suggests the numbers have continued to grow. This has increased the competition between fisheries and the whales, both of whom are after the same catch, including capelin.
Read more: More fin and humpback whales, fewer minke whales by Iceland
Guðlaugur Jónsson, a captain on a capelin boat, told RÚV that the fisheries have been experimenting with various methods to keep the whales at bay. The nets have been fitted with equipment which mimics the sounds of killer whales. These efforts have been only moderately successful. “Whenever we find a school of capelin the whales show up”.
Another fisherman interviewed by RÚV adds that he has never seen as many whales following the capelin. Everyone RÚV talked to say the conditions in Faxaflói were highly unusual and that the whales were behaving in an unexpected manner, some speculating that changing conditions in the sea, due to global climate change, could be to blame.
