Pelagic vessels from Iceland have started fishing on blue whiting in the grey zone south of the Faroe Islands.
Síldarvinnslan reports that its vessels Bjarni Ólafsson, Beitir and Börkur have had promising first tows with hauls of 400-550 tonnes after initial 12-15 hour tows.
‘We’re on our second haul and this has started well,’ said Bjarni Ólafsson’s skipper Runólfur Runólfsson as the crew were pumping 650 tonnes into the tanks after a 15 hour tow.
‘We’re fishing some way to the east and it’s a concern that the fish could move into Scottish waters. We’d like to see them moving further west. Apart from that, the pelagic boats have been doing well.
Börkur’s skipper Hjörvar Hjálmarsson reported a 500 tonne second tow of the trip after the gear had been in the water for 18 hours.
‘The fish are starting to show up here in the grey zone and we’re hoping for some good fishing,’ he said.
On Beitir, skipper Tómas Kárason was also positive.
‘There was a lot to be seen last night and this morning, and I reckon we have a decent haul now. I think we can be optimistic,’ he said.
Pelagic vessel Bjarni Ólafsson. Image: Síldarvinnslan/Smári Geirsson
