The two fresher trawlers operated by Icelandic company Bergur-Huginn have been fishing well, despite difficult weather conditions this winter. Both landed full fishrooms in the Westman Islands at the weekend after no more than 30 hours at sea.
This time of year is when the late winter season of heavy fishing can be expected off Iceland’s south coast, but according to Bergey’s skipper Jón Valgeirsson, the season has hardly begun and appears to be late this year.
‘Most likely it’s just late. There’s good fishing across the grounds and the fish we had on the Pétursey grounds was packed full of capelin. Now we’re on the Toe south of Grindavík, searching for saithe. There has been fishing here for saithe over the last few days, but it’s slowing down,’ he said, adding that there was bad weather throughout their last trip, and both trawlers sailed as soon as landing was complete.
Sister vessel Vestmannaey is only recently back at sea following a four-month refit to repair the damage incurred when a fire broke out in the engine room at the end of last year.
‘We’re just pleased to be back at work after such a long stopover,’ said Vestmannaey’s chief mate Egill Guðni Guðnason, and he echoed Jón Valgeirsson’s comments on the season getting off to a later than usual start this year.
‘It’s late on the Selvogur Bank. Sea conditions have also changed and there has been crazy weather recently. The last trip was a good one, despite the weather. The forecast looks good now, which makes a pleasant change,’ he said.
