Photo : Mariehamn Kystfiske (2018)/sildelaget.no

The course of the pelagic fisheries as per week 7 (herring, mackerel, blue whiting, horse mackerel and capelin)

NORWAY
Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 05:30 (GMT + 9)

Poor weather restrains the blue whiting fishery, the herring has arrived at Møre

Spring-spawning herring

Yet another week where the weather disrupts the herring fishery and only 14.100 MT were registered in the catch journal. Of this volume, 6.100 MT was caught Friday. 

The costal fleet have dominated the fishery this week – catching a total of 9.400 MT, the purse seiners caught 2.000 MT and the trawlers caught 1.700 MT this past week. In addition, we had to Swedish vessels who registered a total of 1.000 MT in the catch journal. 

The herring has been caught over a large area, from Buagrunnen outside of Møre in the South to about 70 n.m. west of Verøy in the North. Giving us a distance of almost 300 n.m between the catches. 

The first catch outside of Møre came from “Paul Senior” on Thursday when they caught about 200 MT. 

The size of the herring is still relatively large, ranging from 304 – 370 gram. And as expected, the largest herring is in the south, in front of the spawning areas. 

This year’s spawning survey also started this week, on Friday, and as the last couple of years “Vendla”, “Eros” and “Kings Bay” are the ones mapping the areas outside the Norwegian coast. 

As the interest for larger herring is good, and the prices thereafter, we’re expecting multiple vessels to participate in the fishery. The biggest challenge in the coming weeks will most likely be the weather.

Blue whiting

Speaking of the weather, if it’s been poor along the Norwegian coast, it’s definitely been poor west of Ireland. An entire week has given barely given one full day of working conditions. During this weather window “Østerbris” managed impressively to load four hauls of blue whiting. The last hauls were caught about 15 n.m from the boarder and we’re getting closer to international waters. 

Nine vessels are now waiting out the weather on the fishing grounds or by Ireland. However, the preliminary weather reports don’t let us get our hopes up. 

Horse Mackerel 

Three vessels caught a total of 75 MT from Rogaland and Vestland this week and the size ranges from 350-480 gram. 

Capelin Iceland

The Icelanders have now started their third survey, three fishing vessels left from the eastside of Iceland on Sunday and two from the west. In addition, there’s expected that a research vessel will sail from the north side when the weather allows it. 

The results from the second survey indicates more capelin than the first round, however it still hasn’t been enough registrations to set a TAC.

Author: Camilla Klævold/Norges Sildesalgslag (Norwegian Fishermen’s Sales Organization for Pelagic Fish)

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