The trawler Börkur NK docked in Neskaupstaður on Monday morning with 2,530 tonnes of blue whiting. According to Síldarvinnslan, the fish were caught in the Rósagarður and on the Þórsbanki, both within Icelandic waters.
Important for shared stocks
The blue whiting fishery plays a key role in the use of shared stocks in the North Atlantic. Captain Hjörvar Hjálmarsson of the Börkur said he was pleased with the trip.
“We took the catch in seven hauls, with each tow lasting between ten and 22 hours. The hauls gave between 300 and 440 tonnes. The fish are large, fat and well-suited for processing,” Captain Hjörvar Hjálmarsson stated.
Strong landings in recent weeks
According to Hjálmarsson, vessels of Síldarvinnslan have landed around 17,000 tonnes in just three weeks.
“That is very good for this time of year. We often see good fishing here in recent years, and it means a lot to us,” Hjörvar Hjálmarsson said.
Alongside the Icelandic fleet, four Faroese vessels are now working the same grounds. Their presence underlines the international importance of the fishery.
Shift towards herring
With the landing complete, Börkur NK will now switch to herring. That means a pause in its blue whiting operations, at least for now.
The landings come as a welcome boost for the local economy in Neskaupstaður and for the wider Icelandic pelagic industry.