Large catches of blue whiting are being landed in Iceland, with several vessels reporting strong fishing in recent days.
Börkur NK landed 3,200 tonnes on Wednesday, while Beitir NK followed with 3,000 tonnes on Thursday morning in Neskaupstaður, according to.
Wide distribution of fish
Skippers report good fishing conditions across a large area south of the Faroe Islands and in international waters. Fish have been observed over a broad zone, indicating a strong presence of blue whiting in the region.
Herbert Jónsson, skipper of Börkur NK, said catches were very good during the trip. He noted that all vessels in the area were taking solid hauls, despite minor gear issues that caused some delay.
Fish moving north
According to Jónsson, the stock is moving north in search of food. He said there is hope that part of the stock will enter Icelandic waters.
Ólafur Gunnar Guðnason, skipper of Beitir NK, confirmed the positive outlook. He said the vessel caught its quota in seven hauls, with towing times between seven and eleven hours.
Weather improving on the grounds
Both skippers pointed to improving weather conditions on the fishing grounds. Better weather is expected to support continued strong fishing in the coming days.
The catches are being delivered to the fishmeal plant operated by Síldarvinnslan in Neskaupstaður.