Icelandic company signs up to Fishing ’11

The company will be exhibiting a new design of trawl door specially developed for a type of fishing that is becoming increasingly popular amongst skippers.

The technique of fishing just above the seabed is coming under renewed focus by skippers because the same or even better catch results can be achieved compared with traditional bottom trawling, whilst resistance and wear on the fishing gear is much less.

The new ‘Hercules’ trawl doors developed by Polar Fishing Gear is a low aspect version of it semi-pelagic ‘Mercury’ trawl doors suitable for bottom and ‘off the seabed’ fishing.

Atli Már Jósafatsson of Polar Fishing Gear says: “Trawl doors like the semi-pelagic series of Polar’s standard Mercury doors or the low aspect ratio version Hercules doors are ideal to obtain full spread of the gear without bottom contact.”

So far, two Scottish vessels – Marina Polaris and Carina – are using Mercury doors, as is the French vessel Bressay Bank and the Fuchsia from Capetown. Recently, the pioneering Vestmann Islands skipper, Birgir Sverrisson, has been using the doors on his fishing vessel, Vestmannaey.

“All of these vessels are improving their operation by using these doors and we are receiving repeat orders,” states Atli Már Jósafatsson.

David Moir, former north-east skipper and show manager for Fishing 2011, said: “We are delighted that such a prestigious company as Polar Fishing Gear has signed up to Fishing 2011.