The pelagic autumn adventure at sea has begun. Last week, on Tuesday afternoon, the first large hauls of mackerel were brought ashore from the Norwegian Sea, around 200 nautical miles northwest of Ålesund.
The Norwegian trawler Fiskebas led the way with 235 tons, closely followed by Grimsholm with 175 tons.
Large catch at the end of week 33
By the end of the week, a total of 9,099 tons of mackerel had been reported. Saturday stood out as the best day, with nearly 5,000 tons landed. The fish are in excellent condition, with some catches averaging 570 grams per fish – a promising start to the season.
The coastal fleet also contributed steadily, landing 565 tons. Their mackerel were somewhat smaller, averaging just over 300 grams.
Herring catches also came in strong last week. Fourteen vessels delivered a total of 7,894 tons of North Sea herring for human consumption. In addition, 1,319 tons went to meal and oil production. The mix highlights the continued importance of herring both as food and industrial raw material.
Blue Whiting and Horse Mackerel at the Edge
Fishing along “Kanten” – the edge of the continental shelf – added further variety. Four boats reported 1,920 tons of blue whiting, 100 tons of argentine (stromsild), and 25 tons of horse mackerel.
While smaller in volume compared to mackerel and herring, these catches are valuable additions to the fleet’s activity.
The sprat (havbrisling) fishery also kept momentum. A combined effort of seven Norwegian and four foreign vessels resulted in 8,119 tons reported.