There has been an undercurrent of disquiet for some time over the differential between mackerel prices in Norway and Iceland, and the Icelandic Fishermen’s Association (Sjómannasamband Íslands – SSÍ) has floated the suggestion that it could be time to strike a deal, and the issue has also been taken up by a Member of Parliament.
SSÍ points out that the Norwegian minimum price for 250 gram mackerel is equivalent to ISK205, while 350 gram mackerel is priced at ISK287 and the minimum fishmeal price is ISK62.
‘The top price we’ve heard quoted in Iceland at the end of the season here was probably around ISK140,’ SSÍ states, commenting further that the reason given for this by vessel operators lies in where and when the Norwegian fleet catches its mackerel, and the Norwegian fleet takes its mackerel catches in purse seines – while the bulk of the Icelandic fleet’s catch is take in trawl gear inside the Icelandic EEZ or internatonal waters at a time of the year when the mackerel are still putting on weight.
‘The Norwegians wait for the right moment and get their catch in their own waters at the right time, and almost all in purse seines,’ SSÍ states.
‘Is it maybe time for Iceland to strike a deal with Norway to catch at least some mackerel in Norwegian waters? Can it be done? There’s much to play for, considering the values that are at stake.’
Meanwhile, People’s Party MP Sigurjón Thórðarson has stated that he has requested the head of the Pricing Commission attend a meeting of the Parliamentary Industrial Affairs Committee to explain this situation.
He commented that this substantial price difference also extends to landings of capelin and blue whiting.
‘This summer a number of fishermen who have been on mackerel have contacted me – every one of them providing information on the condition they remain anonymous,’ he said.
‘They are unanimous in stating that there is a huge difference in the price paid for mackerel from the same shoal, depending on whether it’s landed in the Faroes or to a fishing company’s own production in Iceland.’
He reported that this can be as much as ISK200 – a 300% difference.
‘We can assume that fishermen have lost out on earnings totalling several billion ISK during the last mackerel season. This price difference also means that the state and regional port authorities are also losing out. Revenues to ports would be several hundred million ISK higher if prices were the same as in the Faroes,’ he said.
