Winter feeding during the spawning migration of capelin north of Iceland

Abstract Winter feeding during the spawning migration of capelin is often assumed to be minimal, because energy is allocated to reproduction. However, January–February surveys north of Iceland in 2018 and 2019 showed that prey occurred in 64% and 62% of 423 stomachs examined, respectively. Copepods ( Calanus spp.) and euphausiids dominated the diet, and mean feeding intensity tended to be higher by day than by night. Mean winter feeding intensity was lower than autumn values estimated using the same approach, but feeding was still present. These observations indicate that capelin feed during the winter spawning migration.