Both of HB Grandi’s pelagic vessels have made their final capelin landings of the season to the company’s factory in Akranes, and once the fish have been processed, the season will be over. The vessels are now heading for blue whiting in international waters west of Ireland.

The short roe season that is the high point of Iceland’s capelin season is now well under way, with roe processing in progress at several locations. HB Grandi’s production is underway in Akranes, roe is being processing the Westmann Islands and Síldarvinnslan is producing capelin roe landed and processed at Helguvík, and frozen at Saltver’s factory in Reykjanesbær, as well as producing roe capelin in Neskaupstaður.

Iceland’s capelin roe season is now in progress, the most important part of the season when the fish are in peak condition for roe to be extracted for the lucrative and demanding Japanese market, and production is now underway at several locations in Iceland, with inspectors from Japan carefully watching the quality.

Iceland’s capelin season has ground to a halt as quota are now short and research vessels head back to sea to search for a potential further migration. The industry has reacted with disappointment to the recommended quota for the season, as by the time the figures were released following the January surveys, much of the quota had already been caught.