The UK’s last remaining distant waters trawler, the 81-metre Kirkella operated by UK Fisheries, is fishing on Flemish Cap, providing a British presence on these fishing grounds for the first time since 2016 – when the previous vessel to carry the same name worked there.
Kirkella’s skipper Sigurbjörn Sigurðsson hopes to complete the trip on the grounds 300 nautical miles south of Newfoundland by the end of May. He and Kirkella’s mainly British crew are hoping to take their 1090-tonne NAFO cod quota before heading back to Svalbard.
He commented that Kirkella’s presence on Flemish Cap is due to increased fishing opportunities in the area, because of an increase in the stock size and the resulting positive scientific advice. This was welcome after the vessel faced reduced quotas elsewhere, such as in Norwegian waters in the Barents Sea, where quotas have decreased significantly due to Brexit.
‘Vessel management in the North Atlantic involves constant reevaluation. Kirkella only operates with quotas, and our presence on Flemish Cap stems from increased opportunities here. The crew has prior experience in these waters,’ he said.
‘I was here on trawlers Margrét and Norma Mary, fishing for shrimp, but this is my first time fishing for cod in these waters.’
Kirkella steamed for six days from Hull to reach Flemish Cap. The trawler carries a crew of 28, plus there is a NAFO observer on board to monitor fishing and processing. In addition to the target species of cod, Kirkella also gets a by-catch of catfish and redfish. All of the catches are landed in Hull.
‘Our objective is to conclude our operations and land by the end of May, as we are pressed for time to reach Svalbard,’ Sigurbjörn Sigurðsson said.
