The Artemis BF60 has made a strong start to the North Sea herring season, recording productive fishing grounds and catches of good-sized fish during its first two trips.
The 75-metre vessel departed Peterhead on 12 August for grounds approximately 25 miles east of Fair Isle before moving further south the following day. Three hauls produced a combined 670 tonnes, with herring averaging about 200 grams. The catch was landed at Northbay Pelagic in Peterhead, where it met the processor’s quality and size requirements.
“We have found a good abundance of herring on our first two trips and it has been encouraging to encounter good-sized fish,” skipper Adam Wiseman said, adding that reports of smaller herring from other vessels suggested a healthy mix of year classes.
Artemis began its second trip from Peterhead on 16 August, travelling to fishing grounds around 90 miles north-east of the port. Two initial hauls produced approximately 230 tonnes, before the vessel moved north and caught another 470 tonnes in two further hauls. The fish were moving slowly westwards and averaged around 235 grams, making them larger than those landed during the first trip.
Wiseman said the vessel’s strategy of making short trips allowed Northbay Pelagic to receive fresher, higher-quality fish. He also pointed to strong market demand for herring this year, supported by North Sea herring’s Marine Stewardship Council certification.
Artemis is expected to complete three additional trips during the remainder of its herring season, with smaller-volume catches planned. All catches are scheduled to be landed at Northbay Pelagic in Peterhead.
The early results provide encouragement for the vessel and its crew, with both catch volumes and fish sizes indicating productive fishing conditions. The presence of different-sized herring reported across the fleet could also point to several year classes within the stock, potentially supporting the fishery’s longer-term prospects.
