Production records broken at Vopnafjordur

This year a total of 17,000 tonnes of products from pelagic species have been processed at HB Grandi's Vopnafjordur factory. This is a fine record that leaves the previous 2004 production record of 12,700 tonnes far behind. At that time, around half of production was wholefrozen capelin, but now the bulk of production is herring and mackerel products, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to HB Grandi.

According to the Vopnafjördur factory's plant manager Magnus Robertsson, they managed to freeze around 1000 tonnes of capelin products this year, most of which was frozen capelin roe. Fishing on Atlanto-Scandian herring began in June and the Vopnafjördur factory has handled close to 11,000 tonnes of herring so far. There has also been substantial production of mackerel for human consumption this year with 4800 tonnes processed during the season. By comparison, last year the Vopnafjordur factory last year put around 6000 tonnes of Atlanto-Scandian herring through its freezers and practically no mackerel was frozen.

The last production of herring landed by Lundey NS was processed on Tuesday and this was due to be finished at the end of the day. Magnus Robertsson commented that Faxi RE was scheduled to dock with a further 750 tonnes today, while Ingunn AK has already started fishing on Icelandic summer spawning herring and steaming to Vopnafjördur with 750 tonnes on board. HB Grandi has an 1800 tonne share of the 15,000 tonne initial quota and it's certain that this year's figures for the Vopnafjördur factory are set to rise still further, especially if research now in progress into the size and distribution of the stock gives grounds for an increased quota on summer spawning herring.