Record cod larvae surge on Faroe Bank, but near-shore stocks collapse

Cod larvae are abundant on the Faroe Bank this year, while stocks near the Faroe Islands’ coastal waters have collapsed, according to the Faroese Marine Research Institute (Havstovan).

Surveys show an extraordinary spike in cod larvae on the Faroe Bank, with around 4,000 per haul—compared to the usual 50. The larvae, now 2–3 cm long, are feeding in open water, said marine biologist Helga Bára Vang Mohr.

“This is linked to growth conditions,” she said. While coastal growth conditions have been poor, the Faroe Bank—further offshore and more exposed—has seen stronger growth. Environmental shifts may be worsening conditions near shore, she added, while the bank’s more open waters could be less affected.

However, the offshore surge does not offset the coastal decline. The Faroe Bank cod stock is typically 10 times smaller than the coastal stock, and the two are largely separate. With coastal cod, haddock, and herring larvae at historic lows, the situation is alarming, Vang Mohr warned.

This year’s combined larval abundance for these species was the fourth-lowest recorded since surveys began in 1983, Havstovan reported. The latest surveys were conducted in June.