Icelandic Fisheries Bursary Award winners named

The three 2023 winners, who are all students at the Icelandic College of Fisheries in Grindavik, were awarded ISK 300,000 each towards their respective courses. The winners are Kristín Pétursdóttir, who is studying fish farming, Hreinn Óttar Guðlaugsson, who is studying to be a Marel-processing technician and Dominique Baring, who is studying quality control and fish farming.

Marianne Rasmussen-Coulling, Events Director at Mercator Media, organiser of the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition 2024, said the company was proud to again be presenting the awards and financial support to such worthy students.

“Commercial fishing and aquaculture are principal industries for Icelanders, tirelessly seeking for excellence, and it is important to constantly strengthen the education and knowledge of those who work in that sector. We wish the winners the best of luck and hope that they will contribute to the prosperous Icelandic fishing industry for years to come with their expertise, skills and education,” she said.

Following the 2014 Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition, Mercator Media recognised the need to re-invest in the future of the fishing sector and introduced bursary awards to those currently in education within the fishing sector. The first bursaries were awarded in 2017.

Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson, Headmaster at the Icelandic College of Fisheries, said the Icelandic Fisheries Bursary Awards not only represent an important vote of confidence in the college and the work that it does, they also recognise the importance of education and training in the industry.

“They are an incentive for young people and adults to follow this path and are of great significance to our students. I would like to thank the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition, especially Marianne, for the cooperation between Mercator Media and the Icelandic College of Fisheries that has been extremely good and rewarding over the years,” he said.

2023 winner Pétursdóttir said, “The Icelandic Fisheries Bursary Awards represent a great recognition for me personally, and I am extremely grateful and happy to have received it, which I did not expect at all in advance. The fish farming programme at the Icelandic College of Fisheries gives me the opportunity to gain knowledge of aquaculture from A-to-Z and work my way up. The awards also make it easier to get better opportunities in the industry.”

Guðlaugsson commented, “The bursary award gives me an opportunity for further education and hence better jobs in the future, and undoubtedly personal encouragement as well. I have a great interest in machines and mechanics, inherited from my father. I haven’t been able to work while focusing on my studies and the awards help a lot to improve my finances and support me in my continued studies.”

Baring added, “I am extremely happy and grateful to have received the Icelandic Fisheries Bursary Award. It is not only an important recognition, but also helps me financially, provides motivation and supports me to continue my studies. I can use it now when I take the next steps in my education, but I intend to study fisheries at the University of Akureyri.”

The three 2023 winners were selected from 21 applicants, with the applications assessed by a industry judging panel, including Arnbjörnsson, Sigurjón Elíasson, Global Learning and Development Manager at Marel, Hrefna Karlsdóttir, Senior Adviser at Fisheries Iceland; Örn Pálsson, Manager of the National Association of Small Boat Owners; and Bjarni Þór Jónsson, Icelandic representative for Mercator Media/Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition.

Established in the port of Grindavík in 2010, the Icelandic College of Fisheries’ vision is to meet the current requirements of the national fishing and processing industry throught the prodcution of suitably trained staff. The college offers training for deck crews, fishing vessel deckhands and shore-based industries in aquaculture and fish processing.

Fishing gear technology apprenticeships are also offered in association with the Suðurnes Comprehensive College in Reykjanesbær. Initial courses have since been explanded to include more in-depth, specialised courses of specialised study, which include quality control, fish frocessing and fish farming and it is these areas that the IceFish bursary specifically supports.

The 14th Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition will take place 18-20 September 2024 at the Smárinn, Fifan Halls Kópavogur, Iceland.