Síldarvinnslan’s pelagic vessels Börkur and Beitir have finished their last blue whiting trips of the year – and skippers and crews are hoping for positive news of a capelin season that could start in the new year.
Börkur docked earlier this week with a full payload of 2250 tonnes of blue whiting on board, followed by Beitir with 3050 tonnes in its tanks.
‘We were in the grey zone south of the Faroe Islands, right on the Scottish line. That’s where the fleet has been fishing,’ said Börkur’s skipper Hálfdan Hálfdanarson. ‘Our fish was taken in seven tows over six days and the fish there are large, and good quality.’
Beitir’s catch was taken in eleven tows.
‘Although there wasn’t much in the first haul,’ said skipper Tómas Kárason. ‘Hauls were 300 to 350 tonnes, and there was one 450 tonne haul. Towing time was from 15 up to 24 hours.’
With no urgency to get back to sea, instead of catches being discharged to Síldarvinnslan’s Norðfjörður fishmeal plant, fish is pumped to the factory direct from the RSW tanks on board as required.
Börkur and Beitir will be alongside over Christmas, and hopes are pinned on the results of the recently concluded survey that there will be a capelin season in the new year.
Síldarvinnslan’s pelagic vessels Börkur and Beitir docking in Norðfjörður during a downpour. Image: Síldarvinnslan/Smári Geirsson
