Icelandic processor HB Grandi plans to resume roundfish processing at its Vopnafjörður location where it has concentrated in recent years on pelagic processing and fishmeal production, and has invested heavily in both shore facilities and new pelagic vessels.
The move is a reaction to the slowdown in the pelagic sector, including the results of the loss of the Russian market for pelagic species, as well as the late start of the capelin season that has still not yet begun. Capelin fishing normally starts in January.
According to the company, the outlook for pelagic fisheries is not promising, with recommendations for a sizeable cut in the Icelandic summer-spawning herring quota, the Atlanto-Scandian herring stock in decline and no sign of an international agreement on blue whiting and mackerel.
Conversely, groundfish stocks appear to be in better shape than for many years with the cod index figures better in 2015 than they have been since 1996.
HB Grandi’s managers have announced that roundfish processing will resume at Vopnafjörður later this year, although the extent of this has yet to be decided as the company examines the best options for species and products to be handled at the factory, as well as how to source raw material
