Despite initial concerns, the capelin season in Icelandic waters that has just ended turned out to be one of the best for a long time, according to fishing and processing company Síldarvinnslan.
The company operated three pelagic vessels at the opening of the season, and de-mothballed a laid up vessel part-way into the season when the quota was increased. During this season, Beitir landed 20,048 tonnes of capelin, closely followed by Börkur with 19,384 tonnes. Barði landed 12,875 tonnes and Bjarni Ólafsson caught 8245 tonnes in the short time it was fishing after being brought into service in February.
In addition, Vilhelm Thorsteinsson, Hákon and Greenlandic pelagic vessels Polar Amaroq and Polar Ammassak also landed to Síldarvinnslan.
The final landings of capelin to the company’s processing plants took place 26-27th March.
This season the Neskaupstaður plant took delivery of 53,600 tonnes and 31,600 tonnes were landed to the Seyðisfjörður factory, making this a record season.
This was something of a unique season, as the weather was unusually favourable, with practically no interruptions to fishing during the later part of the season when the capelin roe is at its peak and the most significant values are generated.
The company’s pelagic vessels switched over to trawl gear after Easter and headed for blue whiting grounds in Faroese waters.
Image: Síldarvinnslan/Björn Steinbekk
