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The lumpfish population in Iceland is assessed on an annual basis to provide advice for the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the fishery. This advice is primarily based upon a relative abundance index from the Icelandic spring groundfish survey which takes place each year in February-March.

As spring approaches in Iceland, lumpfish begin to migrate to the coast for spawning and at this time fishers get aboard their boats to begin laying their nets. But where did all these fish come from?

For many species, the feeding and spawning areas are separate and thus the fish must migrate between these areas. The spawning areas may be close to land and as the fish become more aggregated in these areas, they are more vulnerable to fishers.