Around fifteen Scottish pelagic vessels are already fishing for North Sea herring as the season gathers pace, and the rest of the fleet will be at sea before long.
The fishery so far has taken place to the east of Shetland and Fair Isle. It’s been slow to begin with but is now picking up, with the fish being 200 grams plus in weight, making them ideal for the fillet market.
The roe fishery will take place slightly later and into September around the traditional spawning areas to the east of Shetland and around Fair Isle.
‘The first catches of North Sea herring have been excellent quality, which bodes well for the coming weeks,’ said Robert Duthie, chairman of the Scottish Pelagic Processors’ Association.
North Sea herring is the only herring fishery in the north-east Atlantic that is independently certified by the MSC for its sustainable and responsible fishing practices. The fishery was first certified in 2008 and is one of the longest running MSC certified fisheries in the UK. Herring is popular in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, forming an important part of the herring export business from Scotland.
