— A national conservation organization said Friday it is “deeply concerned” about a 70 per cent decline in capelin abundance over the last two years in Newfoundland and Labrador. “A 70 per cent drop in capelin stock is deeply disturbing,” the release said. A Fisheries Department cod stock assessment released Friday said northern cod stock numbers dropped by 30 per cent over the last year. It noted declines in capelin and shrimp are having an impact on cod. The department said natural mortality rates increased since 2017, and one year projections show a high probability of continued decline for 2019.

Source: National Post March 23, 2018 13:30 UTC