Síldarvinnslan’s fresher trawler Gullver docked a few days before Christmas to land its final trip of the year; 70 tonnes of mainly cod, and bringing its 2018 tally to 6100 tonnes – making it the trawler’s best ever year.
The South Western FPO’s chief executive Jim Portus and Darren Edwards, otherwise known as Edd the Net of Brixham Trawl Makers, are flying to Thailand at the invitation of Dr Adisorn Promthep, Director General of the Thai Department of Fisheries.
The Vyborg Shipyard has launched the first in a series of factory trawlers being built at the yard for Russian fishing companies under the investment quotas initiative.
Jacob van Urk joined the air force after leaving school, but found himself drawn back to the sea, spending time enjoying the freedom of the family’s sailing boat before returning to his fishing roots. Now in his mid-50s, he skippers Eurocutter Willem Jacob UK-158, landing catches to the auction in Urk.
An order has been placed with French shipyard Piriou for a new 22.50 metre trawler for Armament Cabaret, with a delivery date in 2019. The newbuild will be registered in St Brieuc and is expected to operate in the Channel and Celtic Sea.
The Northern Shipyard (Severnaya Verf) in St Petersburg has formally laid the keel of the lead vessel in a series of six for Russian fishing company Rybprominvest JSC, part of the Norebo Group. With its innovative layout, the new trawler is designed to have capacity for 1200 tonnes of frozen products, 334 tonnes of fishmeal and 95 tonnes of canned production.
Icelandic pelagic vessel Huginn has been through a major refit at the Alkor shipyard in Gdansk.
For Dutch fishermen it is uncertain what Brussels will decide regarding accepting and continuing pulse trawling. Technical reports show positive aspects such as a lower CO2 emission and less damage to the seabed. For the Dutch fishermen it is clear that the innovative fishing method is a step towards a future of sustainable fishing. They still believe in pulse trawling, reports Willem den Heijer.
Síldarvinnslan’s groundfish trawlers have done well this autumn. Gullver has fished mainly on its usual home fishing grounds, while Vestmannaey and Bergey have been working off the east coast, landing either in the Westman Islands or at east coast ports, which have seen more landings than has been usual.
Earlier this year Scanmar Ísland’s Thórir Matthíasson joined one of Iceland’s top demersal trawlers for a trip to give the skipper and crew some instruction on how to get the best from their ScanBas365 system.