Overview

• Researchers used advanced sonar technology to observe a massive predation event off the Norwegian coast, where 10.5 million capelin were consumed by cod in just a few hours.
• The event involved a shoal of 23 million capelin forming a dense group, which attracted a shoal of 2.5 million cod that attacked in a coordinated manner.
• Capelin, a critical species in the North Atlantic food chain, migrate annually to spawn, making them vulnerable to predators like cod.
• Although this event is unlikely to impact the capelin population significantly, climate change poses a threat by forcing capelin to travel further to spawn, increasing stress and vulnerability.
• The study underscores the importance of monitoring marine ecosystems to understand predator-prey dynamics and the potential consequences of environmental changes.