When the first Faroese shrimp trawler, Vesturvarði, set out in 1970, few could have guessed what was coming.
Within only a few years, the Faroe Islands would build one of the world’s largest shrimp fleets, writes Faroese media outlet www.Fiskur.fo
The First Catches
In 1970, Vesturvarði landed 80 tons of shrimp. Soon after came Oknin, adding 50 tons. Together, they brought in 130 tons that year. A third vessel, Hvítanes, joined in 1971 after being rebuilt at the Tórshavn Shipyard. That year, the three trawlers together caught 496 tons of shrimp.
By 1972, catches rose to 755 tons. Vesturvarði was the leader, landing 370 tons and paying out a record crew share of 115,000 kroner.
Rapid Growth
The fleet expanded quickly. Leikur úr Havn joined in 1973, pushing the total catch to 1,370 tons. By 1974, four new companies were investing in shrimp trawlers. Among them was businessman John Dam, who introduced Suðurvarða. That same year, the fleet passed 2,000 tons.
New, modern designs followed, like Høgifossur in 1974. In 1975, Faroese owners also bought the British trawler Ross Valiant, renaming it V.U. Hammersheimb.
A Fleet to Rival the World
By the late 1970s, Faroese shrimp vessels were among the most active in the North Atlantic. At its height, the fleet was counted as one of the largest in the world.
But the boom would not last forever. Falling shrimp prices and rising oil costs in the early 2000s sharply reduced the fleet.
Still, the story of Faroese shrimp fishing remains one of courage, investment, and rapid growth from small beginnings.