Faroese pelagic vessels have had some big trips on blue whiting using Vónin Gannet trawls.
In the last few days both Tróndur í Gøtu and Borgarinn have landed trips of blue whiting caught south of the Faroe Islands to the Havsbrún fishmeal plant in Fuglafjørður.
Borgarin completed its first trip with a new 2600 metre Gannet pelagic trawl and new blue whiting codend delivered by Vónin, heading home with 1500 tonnes caught on four tows as heavy weather brought the trip to a premature end.
According to skipper Kristian Dam, the 2600 metre trawl performed well, keeping its shape perfectly throughout the tows.
This is a trawl with a very wide opening, designed to be effective on dispersed fish, and with the right rigging it can provide a 270 metre horizontal by 135 metre vertical opening.
Tróndur í Gøtu was at the quay a few days later with a full trip of 2700 tonnes caught in six tows south of the Faroes. They are using the same model of 2600 metre Gannet pelagic trawl, and spread with a 12 square metre pair of Vónin’s Twister trawl doors.
Vónin reports that these doors have proved they have a higher spreading force than other trawl doors, and were easily able to fully open the Gannet trawl.
