Vopnafjoerdur re-starts herring production

HB Grandi's pelagic factory at Vopnafjoerdur has re-started herring production after Ingunn AK docked with 750 tonnes of fish on board. This is very fresh fish, with an average size of 300 grammes, according to plant manager Magnus Robertsson, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to HB Grandi.

Ingunn was fishing for herring in Breidafjoerdur over the weekend and this fish was taken in a single shot. Faxi RE is now on the same fishing grounds to take some more herring after the Minister decided to increase the quota, giving HB Grandi's vessels an additional 2800 tonnes to catch. According to Magnús Róbertsson, this amount is enough to keep production running for between seven and nine days.

When the herring fishery comes to an end, there are hopes that there will be a migration of capelin north of Iceland, now that the Marine research Institute advice is for an initial 200,000 tonne quota. The stock is due to be assessed again early next year, hopefully with a further increase in the quota then.

For the last few weeks the factory at Vopnafjördur has been cleaned, scrubbed and sterilised while the machinery in the factory has been thoroughly overhauled, Magnús Róbertsson said, before the staff were given some much-deserved time off following an extremely busy summer.