A five-vessel search for capelin has begun off Iceland, while capelin fishing has already started east of the country. The first haul was taken early Monday, with around 250 tonnes caught, according to skippers involved.
Search fleet and timeline
The search includes the research vessels Árni Friðriksson and Þórunn Þórðardóttir, as well as the fishing vessels Barði NK, Heimaey VE and Polar Ammassak. The operation is expected to last five to six days.
Three staff from Hafrannsóknastofnun are on board Barði NK and Heimaey VE. Weather conditions are reported to be suitable for the coming days.
Early fishing results
The Greenlandic vessel Polar Amaroq began fishing east of Iceland at around 04:00. After a tow of about five hours, the ship reported a catch of roughly 250 tonnes. The fishing took place east of the Seyðisfjarðardýpi, some 50–60 nautical miles off Norðfjarðarhorn.
Landings and outlook
The catch is expected to be landed in Neskaupstaður, possibly as early as Tuesday morning. Skippers report clear signs of capelin in the area and describe the fish as large and of good quality. Further reports from trawlers east and north-east of Iceland have also been positive.