Two trawlers from Vestmannaeyjar landed fresh catch in Grindavík on 7 November to supply much-needed raw material to local processing plants.
The vessels Bergey VE and Vestmannaey VE arrived after short fishing trips, with both skippers confirming that the catch was steady but conditions at sea had varied.
Strong need for raw material
Processing company Vísir had a clear need for fresh fish, and that led the crews to keep the trips short and return quickly. Bergey VE sailed on Tuesday and headed straight to Reynisdýpi, where the first hauls produced good saithe.
A shift to Pétursey was made due to the weather, where cod made up most of the catch. Bergey landed around 45 tonnes before preparing to go out again around noon.
Two days at sea
Vestmannaey VE fished for roughly two days in total. The crew worked on the grounds near Vík, Pétursey, and Háfadýpi. Their catch was a mix of cod and haddock, with total landings of approximately 35 tonnes.
The skipper said that the fishing trip was kept short for one reason: demand from the processing line. The trawler will also return to sea again this afternoon.
Steady but not booming fishing
Both skippers described the fishing as fair but not heavy. Weather changes played a role in relocating grounds, especially for Bergey VE, which had to move from Reynisdýpi for shelter.
The landings today help ensure steady production in Grindavík, while both vessels remain on quick turnaround schedules.