Plans are for HB Grandi’s pelagic vessel Lundey NS to start fishing on herring in the middle of next week, followed by Faxi RE and Ingunn AK, according to Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson, head of HB Grandi’s pelagic division.
He commented that there have been few reports of herring with only one Icelandic vessel having tried to find herring so far. Last year HB Grandi’s pelagic vessels started on herring on the 24th of May, so this year’s season has a similar starting date to last year’s.
HB Grandi’s pelagic factory in Vopnafjördur has for the last few weeks been in preparation for the herring season. Two new automatic Baader filleting machines have been purchased, along with new conveyors and equipment to handle the herring.
Magnús Róbertsson, factory manager at the Vopnafjördur plant, said that the final preparations are being made now in the production area that has seven filleting machines, of which three are automatic.
‘A lot of work has gone into altering the feed system. We are setting up two graders for herring and two for mackerel, so we are hoping that the changes we have made will make it possible to increase production significantly,’ said Magnús Róbertsson.
