Icelandic pelagic vessels are set to begin blue whiting fishing today, with three ships departing for grounds near the Faroe Islands, where strong catches are expected.
Fleet heads to “grey zone” south of Faroese waters
The vessels Barði NK, Beitir NK and Börkur NK will sail to fishing grounds later today. The fleet is expected to arrive after a stop in the Faroe Islands tomorrow evening.
Fishing will take place in the so-called “grey zone” south of Faroese waters. Fish are currently moving into the area from Irish waters.
Skipper expects a strong start to the season
Theodór Haraldsson, skipper of Barði NK, said expectations are positive.
He noted that strong fishing has typically started at this time of year in recent seasons. Catches have reached up to 100 tonnes per hour in the area.
Last year, the fishery ran from 6 to 10 April and delivered strong results. Haraldsson said Icelandic vessels usually head to the grounds around now and expect good fishing.
Strong early-season benchmark from last year
In 2025, the first blue whiting landing of the season reached Neskaupstaður on 8 April.
Börkur NK delivered a full cargo of 3,250 tonnes. The catch was taken in six hauls over 2.5 days in the same fishing area.
The early timing and past performance point to a potentially strong start to the 2026 blue whiting season.