Greenlandic pelagic vessel Polar Amaroq is currently searching for capelin north of Iceland, carrying out a survey backed by fishing vessel operators’ federation SFS (Samtök fyrirtækja í sjávarútvegi).
Polar Amaroq sailed on Friday, is expected to spend a week searching for capelin, and has been working north-east of Kolbeinsey.
‘This research trip is being carried out in close co-operation with the Marine Research Institute, although there is no institute representative on board,’ said skipper Geir Zoëga. Polar Amaroq’s crew are taking samples which are frozen on board, and all of the survey data is delivered to the Institute.
‘We started north-west of Straumnes and have been carrying out search patterns. There’s good reason to be doing this right now as many of the trawlers fishing around here have reported seeing capelin. We hit capelin right away. At first it was mixed, and after that only large, mature capelin,’ he said.
‘There has been capelin over the 180 nautical mile strip we have covered, with a few good marks to be seen. The capelin are coming from the north and appears to be approaching the coast in sizeable volumes. This is no surprise and is in accordance with the 2019 autumn survey. I’m optimistic there’ll be a capelin season, and have good reason to be optimistic,’ he said.
