Síldarvinnslan’s pelagic vessel Beitir landed the first of season’s capelin in Neskaupstaður earlier this week, and the 1300 tonne catch is being processed at the company’s new protein plant.
According to fish meal production manager Hafthór Eiríksson, production is progressing well, with both lines in use and a production rate of around 380 tonnes per 24 hours.
‘The fish Beitir landed is fat and good quality, so it’s ideal raw material. We’re concentrating on maximising the oil yield and that’s going well,’ he said, adding that the initial figures for fishmeal look promising.
‘We have tried processing both herring and blue whiting in the new plant and this is the first time we have put capelin through it. Production has gone well, although there are always adjustments to be made with a new plant, but we’re satisfied with how it has performed.’
