Sitting out the storm in Donegal Bay
A group of pelagic vessels has been sheltering in Donegal Bay while a storm has been raging on the blue whiting grounds west of Ireland.
A group of pelagic vessels has been sheltering in Donegal Bay while a storm has been raging on the blue whiting grounds west of Ireland.
As the annual blue whiting season approaches for Western Europe’s pelagic fleet, Killybegs-based fishing gear designer and manufacturer Swan Net-Gundry Ltd (SNG) continues to reinforce its international reputation for designing and manufacturing a full range of pelagic gear.
While the capelin fishery that traditionally takes place in the early part of the year has not happened so far, with surveys looking for capelin still in progress, the first blue whiting of the year has been landed to Icelandic fishmeal plants.
The Icelandic pelagic fleet has tied up for the year after finishing on blue whiting, just as heavy weather hit the fishing grounds and catch rates had dropped away.
Síldarvinnslan’s pelagic vessel Börkur landed 2100 tonnes of blue whiting in Neskaupstaður yesterday, and was back to sea as soon as discharging was complete. The company’s other vessels have also been fishing well as the year approaches its end.
Results of the ISSSNS joint pelagic survey carried out by Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands from 30th of June to 6th August have been released, and indicate a drop in the mackerel population, with the densest concentrations observed in the Norwegian Sea.
Vónin recently delivered a full package of gear to French surimi factory trawler Joseph Roty II, which fishes all year round on blue whiting.
According to the Danish Pelagic PO, blue whiting has proved to be an increasingly important resource for Denmark’s fishmeal sector. This year Danish pelagic vessels have landed 81,000 tonnes of blue whiting valued at DKK132.4 million (€17.80 million) compared to 61,000 tonnes last year worth DKK83.50 million (€11.20 million) last year.
There has been little fishing on blue whiting grounds in the Faroese EEZ over the last few days as fishing has dropped away. Síldarvinnslan’s two pelagic vessels Beitir and Börkur have been searching north of the Faroes with limited success.
HB Grandi’s pelagic vessel Víkingur is steaming home with 2200 tonnes of blue whiting in its tanks after a trip in Faroese waters, and fishing has slowed down in the last few days as the fish are increasingly dispersed.