Brim hf. exhausts redfish and haddock quotas
Icelandic fishing company Brim hf. has reported that its quotas for redfish and haddock are fully depleted. The company's vessels are now searching for new fishing grounds before the quota year ends.
Reykjavík, Iceland – Fishing company Brim hf. announced on August 19, 2022, that its quotas for redfish and haddock have been exhausted. The situation is becoming tight as the quota year nears its end, prompting vessels to seek new fishing areas.
"The weather right now is very rough, and the forecast for the Westfjords does not look good. It's northeast, meaning there is no shelter to be found. I am using the bad weather to push northwards. Our main hopes are to find some cod or saithe on the Thverálshorn or Djúpkrókur grounds without any redfish getting in our way," said Heimir Guðbjörnsson, skipper of the fresher trawler Helga María.
When contacted, Guðbjörnsson reported that catch rates had dropped considerably. His vessel had previously taken catches of around a tonne per hour, mainly cod, from the Nes Deeps. Earlier trips to Thverálshorn had yielded saithe along with cod, but the Hali grounds resulted in too much redfish mixed with saithe catches.
The Helga María is scheduled to dock in Reykjavík on Tuesday and is expected to attempt one more trip before the current quota year concludes. Other trawlers operating on the Strandagrunn and Kolbeinsey areas have also reported catching mostly haddock.
Brim is reportedly focusing its efforts on the Thverálshorn area and the shallow grounds west of the southern Westfjords, hoping for any sudden concentrations of fish.