The Icelandic purse seine fleet is at work off the east of the country as the capelin fishery is now in full swing.
Síldarvinnslan’s Beitir landed 415 tonnes last night, caught in a single shot, and Börkur is discharging 1550 tonnes taken in four shots. There are also reports of the Norwegian fleet fishing well in Icelandic waters for their share of the capelin quota.
According to Börkur’s skipper Hjörvar Hjálmarsson, the season has started well.
‘There’s a good amount of capelin to be seen over a wide area and we should be able to fish well if the weather is kind to us. This is good quality capelin, around 36 pieces per kilo,’ he said.
‘The first three shots were taken in the Lónsbugt and the fourth off Stokksnes. That last shot was a good one, and it’s unusual to get such a good shot during the night.’
Image: Síldarvinnslan/Björn Steinbekk
