GREATER SILVER SMELT

Argentina silus


Technical report
Published by

Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Iceland

Published

6 June 2025

Key signals

  • Survey biomass has been increasing since 2013 and reached the highest levels in the timeseries in 2023.

  • Recruitment was higher 10 years ago, which explains the increase in survey biomass, but is around average this year.

  • Length distributions are very consistent from one year to another as measured in the autumn survey, with a mean length of ~39 cm.

  • Spawning stock biomass has been increasing since 2013 and is at an all time high, but has been above \(B_{lim}\) since 2014.

  • Fishing mortality (F) is below \(F_{MSY}\) and has been since 2017.

General information

Greater silver smelt is a rather small silvery bathypelagic species that can form large schools close to the seafloor mainly at depths >500 m. In Icelandic waters it can live to around 26 years old. Juveniles tend to aggregate in shallower depths. Greater silver smelt mainly feed on zooplankton (e.g., euphausiids, amphipods, and copepods) or small nekton (e.g., squids, jellyfish, or fish).

The Fishery

Fleets

Since 1996 between 20 and 40 trawlers have annually reported catches of greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters (Table 1). The trawlers participating in the greater silver smelt fishery also target Icelandic slope beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) and to lesser extent Greenland halibut and blue ling. Number of hauls peaked in 2010, but have decreased since then in line with lower total catches. In the most recent years number of hauls have increased. In most years over 50% of the greater silver smelt catches are taken in hauls where the species is more than 50% of the catch (Table 1).

Table 1: Greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters. Information on the fleet reporting catches of greater silver smelt.

Year

Number of trawlers

Number of hauls

Reported catch (tonnes)

No. hauls which GSS > 50% of catch

Proportion of catch in hauls where GSS > 50%

1997

26

874

2282

355

0.822

1998

40

2683

11389

1991

0.947

1999

25

1509

4564

810

0.849

2000

23

1301

3550

608

0.797

2001

26

794

1606

245

0.692

2002

32

1160

3158

468

0.744

2003

30

1176

2005

213

0.473

2004

27

1052

2733

292

0.653

2005

30

1388

3558

335

0.707

2006

31

1554

3736

355

0.690

2007

27

1275

3470

416

0.718

2008

31

3261

8569

848

0.648

2009

34

3555

10425

1010

0.680

2010

36

4847

16500

1821

0.727

2011

34

3309

10237

961

0.715

2012

31

3395

9776

988

0.710

2013

31

2743

7247

609

0.642

2014

24

2363

6195

487

0.608

2015

24

2195

5835

356

0.574

2016

26

2096

5719

385

0.593

2017

21

1363

3894

236

0.584

2018

20

1440

3893

215

0.479

2019

28

1169

2570

143

0.506

2020

25

1170

2968

174

0.475

2021

27

1166

3439

189

0.663

2022

31

1697

6230

468

0.726

2023

25

1992

5321

348

0.652

2024

29

1966

8333

591

0.858

Targeting and mixed fisheries issues in the fishery in Icelandic waters

Mixed fisheries issues: species composition in the fishery

Redfish spp. (golden redfish (Sebastes norvegicus) and deepwater redfish (S. mentella)) are the main bycatch species in the mixed fishery encompassing greater silver smelt. Other species of lesser importance are Greenland halibut, blue ling and ling. Other species than these rarely exceed 10% of the bycatch in the greater silver smelt fishery in Icelandic waters (Table 2).

Table 2: Greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters. Proportional (%) bycatch species composition where greater silver smelt was more than 50% of the total catch in a haul.

Year

Golden redfish

Deepwater redfish

Greenland halibut

Ling

Blue ling

Other

1997

1.4

79.3

0.0

6.8

7

5.4

1998

5.2

77.5

0.0

3.5

7

6.7

1999

4.1

79.8

0.0

2.7

6

7.6

2000

4.9

70.9

0.2

0.3

10

13.7

2001

22.7

55.0

4.5

0.5

1

16.1

2002

17.3

73.9

0.4

1.2

4

3.1

2003

38.4

51.2

0.4

0.0

5

4.8

2004

24.9

68.7

0.7

0.1

1

4.8

2005

15.4

69.9

4.2

1.4

3

6.1

2006

28.8

59.8

1.4

0.9

1

8.1

2007

11.9

71.2

5.9

0.3

6

4.6

2008

26.7

60.8

2.8

1.2

5

3.3

2009

20.1

64.6

3.2

0.2

8

4.0

2010

16.0

63.7

2.0

0.9

6

11.1

2011

13.2

66.4

2.2

0.4

5

13.0

2012

8.8

67.3

1.3

0.2

8

14.8

2013

9.5

63.9

4.6

0.1

9

12.6

2014

2.5

78.3

2.8

0.3

5

10.7

2015

12.6

64.1

4.7

0.2

4

14.5

2016

10.9

73.5

5.4

0.2

3

7.1

2017

2.9

85.6

1.6

0.2

3

6.8

2018

4.7

87.7

2.0

0.0

2

4.0

2019

7.8

81.2

1.8

0.6

2

7.0

2020

5.6

87.5

1.7

0.1

1

4.2

2021

11.6

72.3

5.8

0.3

1

8.7

2022

5.7

84.0

4.0

0.2

3

2.9

2023

10.6

58.9

21.4

0.3

2

6.8

2024

9.8

64.4

5.0

0.6

4

16.3

Spatial distribution of catches through time

Most of the catches since 1997 have been taken at the southern edge of the Icelandic shelf (Figure 3). In the period, a gradual relative increase is seen in the western area and a gradual decrease in the southeastern area (Figure 3).

Spatial distribution of catches in Icelandic waters has not changed markedly in recent years (Figure 3 and Figure 4) but fishing for greater silver smelt in the NW area seems to have reduced (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Greater silver smelt. Catch distribution and proportions by area according to logbooks.
Figure 4: Greater silver smelt. Spatial distribution of catches as reported in logbooks.
Table 3: Greater silver smelt. Landings (tonnes) records from the Icelandic directorate of Fisheries and Greenland.

Year

Section 5.a

Section 14.b

Total

1988

241

0

241

1989

8

0

8

1990

113

0

113

1991

246

0

246

1992

657

0

657

1993

1526

0

1526

1994

756

0

756

1995

586

0

586

1996

881

0

881

1997

3935

0

3935

1998

15242

0

15242

1999

6681

0

6681

2000

5657

0

5657

2001

3043

0

3043

2002

4960

0

4960

2003

2680

0

2680

2004

3645

0

3645

2005

4482

0

4482

2006

4769

0

4769

2007

4227

0

4227

2008

8778

0

8778

2009

10828

0

10828

2010

16428

0

16428

2011

10516

0

10516

2012

9289

0

9289

2013

7155

0

7155

2014

6344

4

6348

2015

6058

23

6081

2016

5646

16

5662

2017

4344

666

5010

2018

4035

425

4460

2019

3209

2

3211

2020

3775

27

3802

2021

4140

15

4155

2022

6886

28

6914

2023

5268

0

5268

2024

9032

0

9032

Data available

In general, sampling from commercial catches is considered representative of the stock, as one of the requirements of owning a fishing license for greater silver smelt is the retention of scientific samples (Table 4). Samples were only obtained from bottom trawls. The sampling does seem to cover the spatial and temporal distribution of catches. In recent years there was a decline in sampling which has been improved since 2023. The sampling coverage in 2025 is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Greater silver smelt. Fishing grounds as reported in logbooks and positions of samples taken from landings (asterisks).

Landings and discards

Landings by Icelandic vessels are given by the Icelandic Directorate of Fisheries. Discarding is banned in Icelandic waters, and currently there is no available information on greater silver smelt discards. It is however likely that unknown quantities of greater silver smelt were discarded prior to 1996.

Length compositions

Table 4 gives the number of samples and measurements available for calculations of catch in numbers of greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters. Mean length of greater silver smelt in catches has been rather stable from 2005 in the range of 37 – 43 cm (Figure 6). However, there was a slight increase in mean length in 2012 and again in 2018 (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Greater silver smelt. Relative length distributions from Icelandic commercial bottom trawl catches.

Age compositions

Table 4 gives the number of samples and measurements available for calculations of catch in numbers of greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters. Mean ages from catches have been variable from 2000 in the range 6 – 14 years, with relatively high mean ages when catches are low (Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9). The reason for these changes is not known as there is no marked difference in the spatial distribution of the fishery; however, reduced fishing pressure may be a factor.

Table 4: Greater silver smelt. Summary of sampling intensity and overview of available data.

Year

No. length samples

No. length measurements

No. otolith samples

No. aged otoliths

1997

48

4992

1447

1059

1998

148

15559

6964

889

1999

58

4163

2180

82

2000

27

2968

1011

113

2001

10

489

245

17

2002

21

2270

360

127

2003

63

5095

425

0

2004

34

997

225

84

2005

49

3708

772

0

2006

29

4186

616

525

2007

14

2158

285

272

2008

44

3726

1768

1387

2009

53

5702

1746

1574

2010

134

16353

3370

3120

2011

63

6866

1953

1774

2012

43

4440

1492

603

2013

47

4977

710

704

2014

39

4709

350

340

2015

11

1275

221

217

2016

45

5879

285

283

2017

29

3466

430

416

2018

12

1437

185

181

2019

10

1250

40

40

2020

12

1905

130

130

2021

14

1301

215

214

2022

8

603

165

165

2023

28

2789

479

476

2024

23

1964

455

448

Figure 7: Greater silver smelt. Catch weights by age from the commercial fishery in Icelandic waters.
Figure 8: Greater silver smelt. Catch at age from the commercial fishery in Icelandic waters. Miomass caught by year and age; bars are coloured by cohort.

Weight at age in catches

Mean weight at age in the catch is shown in Figure 9. Catch weights of most year classes have been decreasing in recent years with an exception for some of the older age classes in 2019 (Figure 9). Weight at age was higher for the younger age classes in 2005-2015.

Figure 9: Greater silver smelt. Mean weight at age in the catch from the commercial fishery in Icelandic waters. Bars are coloured by cohort.

Catch per unit of effort and effort data from commercial fisheries

At WKDEEP 2010 a glm cpue series was presented (WKDEEP 2010, GSS-05), however because of strong residual patterns the group concluded that the glm-cpue series was not suitable to use as an indicator of stock trends. The cpue is not considered to represent changes in stock abundance as the fishery is mostly controlled by market factors, oil prices and quota status in other species, mainly redfish. CPUE may however, give an idea of the behavior of the fishery (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Greater silver smelt. Catch per unit effort in the Icelandic bottom trawl fishery.

Survey data

The Icelandic autumn groundfish survey was commenced in 1996 and expanded in 2000. A detailed description of the autumn groundfish survey is given in the stock annex (ICES, 2025) for greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters. The survey is considered representative of stock biomass of greater silver smelt since it was expanded in 2000. Figure 11 gives the most recent catch quantities and locations of surveys. The observed trends in the biomass indices from the autumn survey have a considerably different trend than those observed in the spring survey (Figure 12). According to the autumn survey, biomass increased more or less year on year from 2000 to 2008 but then decreased in 2009 and 2010. The total biomass index in the autumn survey showed slight variations until 2014 when the index increased to the highest value observed at the time. In 2023, the index reached the highest value in the timeseries (Figure 12).

The Icelandic spring groundfish survey, which has been conducted annually in March since 1985, gives trends on fishable biomass of many exploited stocks on the Icelandic fishing grounds. In total, about 550 stations are taken annually at depths down to 500 m. The survey area does not cover the most important distribution area of the greater silver smelt fishery in Icelandic waters but does give an indication of recruitment and is, as of the WKBDEEP meeting in 2025 (ICES 2025) included in the assessment. The juvenile index has a very high peak in 1986 but then hardly any juveniles are detected in the survey in 1987 to 1995. Since 1998 there have been several small spikes in the recruitment index (Figure 12).

Most of the greater silver smelt caught in the survey is taken in few but relatively large hauls. This can result in very high indices with large variances particularly if the tow-station in question happens to be in a large stratum with relatively few tow-stations. For example, autumn survey indices in 1999 and 2014 are especially high in comparison with survey indices from adjacent years (Figure 12).

Figure 11: Greater silver smelt. Abundance and distribution of greater silver smelt in the spring survey (SMB) this year and in the autumn survey (SMH) last year.
Figure 12: Greater silver smelt. Indices calculated from the Icelandic spring survey (lines and shaded area) and from the autumn survey (dots). Vertical lines and shaded area represent +/- 1 standard error.

No substantial changes are seen in spatial distribution of the autumn survey. For the spring survey, a large proportional increase is observed in the Southeast (Figure 13).

Figure 13: Greater silver smelt. Estimated survey biomass in the spring survey (left) and autumn survey (right) by year from different areas (upper figures) and as proportions of the total (lower figures).

Length distributions from the autumn survey are rather stable, with 2025 being close to the long-term average. For the spring survey however, smaller sizes can be observed at times of high recruitment (Figure 14).

Figure 14: Greater silver smelt. Relative length distribution from the autumn survey.

Survey indices disaggregated by age show an increase in most age classes in recent years for the autumn survey (Figure 15). As expected, the spring survey is limited mostly to the younger age classes but the largest indices are found in 2005 for 5 year olds and 5-10 years in recent years (Figure 15).

Figure 15: Greater silver smelt. Age disaggregated indices in the autumn survey (left) and spring survey (right). fill colours indicate cohorts. Note different scales on y-axes.

Stock weight at age

Mean weight at age in the survey is shown in Figure 16. Stock weights are obtained from the autumn groundfish survey in October and are also used as mean weigtht at age in the spawning stock.

Figure 16: Greater silver smelt. Stock weights from the spring survey in Icelandic waters. Bars are coloured by cohort.

Stock maturity

Estimates of maturity ogives of greater silver smelt in 5.a were presented at the ICES 2020 meeting for both age and length (ICES 2020) using data collected in the Icelandic autumn survey (See stock annex for details). Males, on average, mature at a slightly older age or at 6.5 compared to 5.6 for females but at a similar length as females 35.3 cm (Figure 18).

Figure 17: Greater silver smelt. Maturity at age in the survey. Bars are coloured by cohort. The values are used to calculate the spawning stock.
Figure 18: Greater silver smelt. Proportion mature at length from the autumn survey. The black line is year 2024.

Analytical assessment using SAM

In 2025, Greater silver smelt in 5.a and 14 was reassessed as age data had been improved and the SAM model framework is more stable and easier to use than the previously benchmarked Gadget model. As a part of a Harvest Control Evaluation the stock was benchmarked (WKBDEEP, ICES 2025) which resulted in changes in the assessment method and updated reference points. Model setup and settings are described in the Stock Annex (ICES, 2025).

Diagnostics

Model fit

Figure 19 shows the overall fit to the survey indices. In general, the model appears to follow the stock trends historically. Furthermore, the terminal estimate is not seen to deviate substantially from the observed value for most length groups, with model overestimating the abundance in the two largest length group. Summed up over survey biomass the model overestimates the biomass in the terminal years. The overview of model parameter estimates are shown in Figure 24.

Figure 19: Greater silver smelt. Model fit to indices from the autumn survey, spring survey and residual catch. Black dots are observed values and the black line is the model fit.

Results

Population dynamics of the ling estimated in this model show a clear trend of a high recruitment period from 2004-2010, corresponding with increased spawning stock biomass (SSB) and catches during the 2010-2019 period. Fishing mortality remained rather steady until 2015 but has declined since then (Figure 20).

Figure 20: Greater silver smelt. Model results of population dynamics overview: estimated catch, average fishing mortality over ages 6-14 (Fbar), recruitment (age 5), and spawning stock biomass (SSB). Catch and fbar values in 2024 are projections.

Retrospective analysis

Analytical retrospective analysis is presented (Figure 21). The analysis indicates that there were downward revisions of biomass from the first and second years of the 5-year peel, followed by an upward revision of biomass (SSB) over the last three years. As a result, there was slight upward then downward revision of fishing mortality (F). Estimates of recruitment are decently stable, though less so in the most recent years.

Mohn’s ρ was estimated to be -0.1079309 for SSB, 0.0740609 for F, and -0.1415376 for recruitment. Neither observation nor process residuals show obvious trends (Figure 22 and Figure 23).

Figure 21: Greater silver smelt. Retrospective plots illustrating stability in model estimates over a 5-year “peel” in data. Results of spawning stock biomass, fishing mortality F, and recruitment (age 5) are shown.
Figure 22: Greater silver smelt. Observation error residuals of the SAM model.
Figure 23: Greater silver smelt. Process error residuals of the SAM model.
Figure 24: Greater silver smelt. Illustration of estimated model parameters.
Figure 25: Greater silver smelt. Comparsion of the modelled survey indices (solid lines) and survey indices (dots).

Reference points

As part of the WKBDEEP 2025 HCR evaluations (ICES 2025), the following reference points were defined.

Table 5: Greater silver smelt. Reference points adopted from ICES WKBDEEp 2025 (ICES 2025).
Framework Reference_point Value Technical_basis
MSY Approach MSY Btrigger 49481 Bpa
FMSY 0.093 F that produces MSY in the long term
Precautionary Approach Blim 40531 Bloss (SSB in 2013)
Bpa 49481 Blim x e1.645 * 0.12
Flim 0.145 Fishing mortality that in stochastic equilibrium will result in median SSB at Blim.
Fpa Maximum F at which the probability of SSB falling below Blim is <5%

Management

The Ministry of Industries is responsible for management of the Icelandic fisheries and implementation of legislation. The ministry issues regulations for commercial fishing for each fishing year (1 September–31 August), including an allocation of the TAC for each stock sub-ject to such limitations. Before the 2013/2014 fishing year the Icelandic fishery was managed as an exploratory fishery subject to licensing since 1997. A detailed description of regulations on the fishery of greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters is given in the stock annex (ICES 2025). Fishing for greater silver smelt is banned at depths less than 400 m to avoid catching younger fish.

The TAC for the 2013/2014 fishing year was set at 8000 t based on the recommendations of MFRI using a preliminary Gadget model and the 2014/2015 fishing year the recommendation was to maintain the catches at 8000 t. For the fishing year 2015/2016 it was also maintained at 8000 t, but varied between 7600 and 12273 since then, 2024/2025 being the highest (Table 6).

Figure 19 illustrates the difference between national TAC and landed catch in Icelandic waters. Flexibility is built into the Icelandic fisheries management system in which quota is transformed for use for constraining species when it is available. As this stock is consistently caught at levels lower than the TAC in recent years, it has been a source of quota that may be used to fish other species.

Table 6: Greater silver smelt. TAC recommended by the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, national TAC set by the Ministry, and total landings (tonnes).

Advice period

Advice

TAC

Total

2010/2011

8000

8000

12091

2011/2012

6000

6000

8410

2012/2013

8000

8000

11039

2013/2014

8000

8000

7243

2014/2015

8000

8000

6849

2015/2016

8000

8000

6019

2016/2017

7885

7885

3570

2017/2018

9310

9310

5159

2018/2019

7603

7603

2807

2019/2020

9124

9124

3775

2020/2021

8729

8729

4282

2021/2022

8717

8717

6550

2021/2022

9244

9244

6550

2022/2023

11520

11520

5430

2023/2024

10920

12080

7384

2024/2025

12273

12273

Figure 26: Greater silver smelt. Net transfer of quota in the Icelandic ITQ system by fishing year. Between species (upper): Positive values indicate a transfer of other species to greater silver smelt, but negative values indicate a transfer of greater silver smelt quota to other species. Between years (lower): Net transfer of quota from a given fishing year (may include unused quota).
Figure 27: Greater silver smelt. Comparison of the total allowable catch, adviced catch and total catch within the Icelandic EEZ.

Current advisory framework

Reference points defined for the stock are shown in Table 5.

Short-term forecast

Short term projections are performed mostly using the standard procedure in SAM using the forecast function. Three-year averages are used for stock weights and maturity, but for catch weight, full uptake of the TAC is assumed in the current fishing year. These changes are made because the current fishing pressure is higher than that of the previous year’s resulting in an underestimate when using the standard procedure. From this projection the advice is derived. The advice is based on the Icelandic fishing year starting in September each year. This causes a mismatch between the assessment model, which is based on the calendar year. So in order to provide advice for the fishing year, the standard projection procedure in SAM will need to be adapted to accommodate these differences. So given the assessment in year \(y\) the interim year catches are based on the following fishing mortality: \[F_{y} = \left(\frac{8}{12}F_{sq} + \frac{4}{12} F_{MSY}\right)\] and therefore the total catches for year \(y\) will be: \[ C_{y} = \frac{F_{y}}{F_{y} + M} \left(1 - e^{-(F_{y} + M)}\right)B_{y}\]

and the part of the catch in the fishing year y-1/y will be \[\frac{\frac{8}{12}F_{sq}}{\left(\frac{8}{12}F_{sq} + \frac{4}{12} F_{MSY}\right)} C_y\]

and the catch in fishing year y/y+1 will be: \[C_{y/y+1} = \frac{\frac{4}{12}F_{MSY}}{\left(\frac{8}{12}F_{sq} + \frac{4}{12} F_{MSY}\right)} C_y + \frac{8}{12}C_{y+1}\] where \[C_{y+1} = \frac{F_{MSY}}{F_{MSY} + M} \left(1 - e^{-(F_{MSY} + M)}\right)B_{y}\] The results from the short term prognosis are shown in Table 7.

Table 7: Greater silver smelt in 5a and 14. Results from the short term prognosis.
Year F(6-14) Recruitment SSB Catch
2025 0.131 35180 77051 11040
2026 0.093 36971 74005 7737
2027 0.093 39408 73520 7467

Management considerations

Exploitation of greater silver smelt in Icelandic waters has gradually declined since its peak in 2010, falling to levels below than the average exploitation rate in the reference period.

Ecosystem considerations for management

Short-term declines in biomass due to high fishing pressure have occurred in the history of greater silver smelt fishing in Iceland. However, a longer-term decline in biomass was ob-served from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, although catch data from this period are unreliable, making it difficult to directly attribute the decline to fishing. Since the mid-1990s, bio-mass has generally increased. This recovery is likely due to a combination of reduced fishing pressure and favorable environmental conditions, which have supported strong recruitment over the past decade.

REFERENCES

ICES. 2010. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Deep‐water Species (WKDEEP), 17–24 February 2010, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICESCM2010/ACOM: 38. 247pp. http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2010/WKDEEP/wkdeep_final_2010.pdf

ICES. 2014. “Report of the Working Group on the Biology and Assessment of Deep-Sea Fisheries Resources (WGDEEP). ICES Scientific Reports. 1:21., Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES Cm 2014/Acom:17.” International Council for the Exploration of the Seas; ICES publishing. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5262.

ICES. 2020. “Stock Annex: Greater silver smelt (Argentina silus) in Subarea 14 and Division 5.a (East Greenland and Iceland grounds).” International Council for the Exploration of the Seas; ICES publishing. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.20037254

ICES. 2021. Benchmark Workshop of Greater silver smelt (WKGSS; Outputs from 2020 meeting). ICES Scientific Reports, 3:5. 485 pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5986.

ICES. 2025. Benchmark Workshop on Selected Deep-Sea Fisheries Stocks (WKBDEEP). ICES Scientific Reports. 7:24. 148 pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.28882295