The Icelandic pelagic vessel Vilhelm Þorsteinsson EA is set to land a full catch of about 3,200 tonnes after a short fishing trip south of the Faroe Islands, as the national blue whiting quota is close to being exhausted.
According to Icelandic fisheries media outlet Fiskifréttir, the catch will be landed in Fáskrúðsfjörður. It follows an earlier full landing, underscoring the season’s fast pace.
Fast fishing, shrinking quota
Fishing has been strong in the waters between Scotland and the Faroe Islands. The latest trip lasted just over three days.
However, the Icelandic blue whiting quota has been sharply reduced. It stands at 170,000 tonnes this season, down from more than 300,000 tonnes last year.
The rapid catches mean the quota is being used up quickly.
Shift towards the mackerel season
Most of the catch is not used for human consumption. Some smaller volumes are processed for food by Faroese operators, while Icelandic catches are mainly reduced for fishmeal and oil.
The fleet is now expected to pause until the mackerel season begins later in the summer. Fishing is likely to move towards the Norwegian Sea and adjacent areas.
Concerns remain about mackerel stocks. Advice points to a major cut in catches, with Iceland’s quota set to fall sharply this year.