The Icelandic vessel Beitir NK is heading out for mackerel fishing, despite earlier indications that it would pursue herring catches east of the country.
Only yesterday, the plan had been for the vessel to complete a blue whiting landing before switching to herring, with an expected arrival at port by Monday morning.
Instead, fresh reports of unusually strong mackerel catches in Smugunni prompted a rapid change of course.
“Things change quickly at sea”
Grétar Örn Sigfinnsson, operations manager at Síldarvinnslan, explained that pelagic vessels are currently dividing their efforts between herring, blue whiting and mackerel. “Much has to be weighed up when deciding how to structure the fishing at any given time,” he said.
Skipper’s optimism
Tómas Kárason, skipper of Beitir, expressed excitement at the unexpected turn:
“We thought our mackerel season was over, but in these circumstances, things can change with very little notice. Reports of excellent fishing have been coming from Smugunni, with some vessels landing as much as 700 tonnes in a single haul. We’ll finish unloading the blue whiting around midday and plan to set sail for Smugunni at two o’clock. We leave the harbour full of optimism.”
A season in constant motion
The shift highlights how rapidly fortunes and priorities can shift in Iceland’s fishing sector. With multiple species in season and markets to serve, vessels such as Beitir must adjust course almost overnight, chasing the most promising opportunities.