Forty crew have been given notice as Icelandic fishing company Síldarvinnslan plans to cut back its groundfish fleet with two trawlers to be taken out of service.
Veteran fresher trawler Gullver was built in 1983 and is to be taken out of operation, while another fresher trawler operated by subsidiary company Vísir, the 27-year-old Jóhanna Gísladóttir will also be taken out.
Both crews have been given six months notice, although some will find berths on other vessels within the group. Fresher trawler Birtingur, which Síldarvinnslan acquired at the end of 2024, will work with two crews when it is ready start fishing.
‘Decisions that entail giving notice are always complex and difficult, but Síldarvinnslan is making efforts to ameliorate the effects of these changes as far as possible,’ said CEO Gunnthór Ingvason.
‘On the other hand, these are necessary to ensure and maintain the company’s future competitiveness and activities. The operating environment has been changing and the outlook is for a reduction in fishing opportunities. We are laying up the vessels that are becoming elderly.’
The remaining Síldarvinnslan fleet is three fresher trawlers, two longliners, one factory trawler and an inshore vessel working under the hooked gear management system, plus three pelagic vessels.
