Norwegian vessels landed 31,800 tonnes of North Sea herring last week, the strongest week of the summer so far. But more than four-fifths of the catch was too small for the consumer market.

A total of 47 vessels reported catches. Individual landings ranged from just 45 tonnes to 1,500 tonnes.

Only 5,400 tonnes were sold for human consumption. The remaining 26,400 tonnes — around 83 per cent of the total — went for fishmeal and fish oil.

Small herring hits market value

The main problem was size.

Herring sent for reduction weighed between 108 and 130 grams. The average was 117 grams.

Coastguard measurements showed lengths of between 22.5 and 24.3 centimetres. That was above the legal minimum of 20 centimetres, but still too small for most food processors.

Herring sold for consumption had an average weight of 139 grams. The catches ranged from 121 to 168 grams.

The smallest fish also raised concerns about quality and whether buyers could use them effectively.

Fishing had slowed sharply in northern grounds, where larger herring had previously been found. Vessels then moved south and found strong concentrations of smaller fish.

Quota disappears fast

Most of the fishing took place in Norwegian waters between Allébanken and Patchbanken, west of Bømlo and Karmøy.

Only 300 tonnes were caught north of 60 degrees, where much of the earlier fishing had taken place.

Two catches from British waters totalled 500 tonnes. Those fish weighed between 129 and 139 grams.

The heavy week has pushed total North Sea herring landings to 60,100 tonnes from a quota of just over 94,000 tonnes.

That means close to two-thirds of the quota has already been taken. Many vessels have completed their individual allocations.

The high level of fishing in Norwegian waters may now allow a larger share to be caught in British waters by vessels that still have quota left.

Fleets hunt for larger fish

Strong winds kept many vessels away from the fishing grounds on Sunday.

More boats are expected to return when the northerly wind eases.

The industry is now hoping to find larger herring further north. Those fish would be better suited to the consumer market. They could deliver greater value than catches sent for fishmeal and oil.

Elsewhere, Norwegian vessels reported only 78 tonnes of mackerel, down from 128 tonnes the previous week.

Five vessels also landed 4,200 tonnes of blue whiting. One vessel caught almost 2,000 tonnes in less than five days in the Norwegian Sea.