HB Grandi’s fleet has recorded a reduction in catch volumes and values for 2013, which it says was down to poor herring fishing.
The fleet’s catches totalled 188,000 tonnes with a value of ISK 16.752m (US$144,413) last year. This represents a reduction of 5.5% in both volume and value terms compared to 2012 when the fleet landed 199,000 tonnes valued at ISK 17.740m (US$152,931).
The pelagic fleet’s overall catches came to 135,000 tonnes last year and had been 149,000 tonnes the year before. The top pelagic vessel was Ingunn AK with 47,100 tonnes valued at ISK 1.769m (US$15,250).
Örfirisey RE was the company’s top freezer trawler with a catch of 9,525 tonnes, and came in with the highest catch value of ISK 2.271m (US$19,577).
Ásbjörn RE was the top catching fresher trawler with 6,390 tonnes, while Sturlaugur H Bödvarsson returned the highest value landings with ISK 1.129m (US$9,732).
While HB Grandi says the main reason for the reduction is poor herring fishing towards the end of last year, it says the fact that it laid up its freezer trawler, Venus HF, should also be taken into account.
The vessel was sold at the end of last year, while Helga María AK was also laid up for part of the year and taken to Poland for conversion to operate as a fresher trawler.
