The Icelandic fleet’s mackerel fishery for this year is coming to a close. Samherji’s pelagic vessel Margrét has finished its season with a 930-tonne landing to Síldarvinnslan’s Neskaupstaður processing plant, and there are just a few vessel still fishing.
Margrét, Vilhelm Thorsteinsson and Barði have all finished on mackerel, while Beitir and Börkur are still at sea. The Samherji and Síldarvinnslan vessels have operated a pool system during this season, taking it in turns to load and discharge catches.
‘This season has gone well,’ said fleet manager Grétar Örn Sigfinnsson.
‘We weren’t particularly optimistic to start with, but it has turned out very well. The co-operation between the vessels makes a big difference, as there’s often a long way to go to find mackerel. The quota is almost exhausted and we’re happy with the outcome.’
He commented that Atlanto-Scandian herring is next on the agenda.
‘The expectation is that this season will start around or after the end of the month. We’re optimistic for the herring season, as we’ve been aware of a large amount of herring off the east coast,’ Grétar Örn Sigfinnsson said.
