Two of HB Grandi’s vessels left for the Atlanto-Scandian herring fishery when Ingunn AK sailed from Akranes last week and Faxi followed the following day from Reykjavík. Both vessels arrived on fishing grounds the next day, where Icelandic pelagic vessels have already been fishing inside the EEZ east of Iceland.
‘It’s excellent news that the herring are found inside territorial waters. The first indications of herring in fishable quantities were seen a week ago and fishing has since been on the Hvalbakshall grounds.
It makes a great difference to be fishing close to land. When the fishery began, activity was around Jan Mayen, which is 250 miles further from Vopnafjördur than the Hvalbakshall grounds. The difference is 48 hours steaming, and a significant saving in fuel,’ says Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson, head of HB Grandi’s pelagic division, commenting further that as well as herring on grounds east of Iceland, mackerel has also been seen in increasing quantities.
HB Grandi has a 36,000 tonne quota for Atlanto-Scandian herring this year. As well as Ingunn and Faxi, pelagic vessel Lundey is also being prepared for herring and is expected to sail from Reykjavík this week.
Source: HB GGRANDI
