STRONG START FOR ICELANDIC MACKEREL SEASON

Strong start for Icelandic mackerel season. The Icelandic mackerel fishing season has got off to a good start, according to Magnús Róbertsson, production manager at HB Grandi’s Vopnafjörður factory in Iceland.

‘This good mackerel fishing is very welcome and there has been a lot of activity here since Venus arrived with the first mackerel catch for production,” he says
“It’s a boost for a community like this one, not least as the capelin season failed completely.”

The mackerel season got underway when Venus delivered the first mackerel of the summer on 12th July.

‘Production has been been largely continuous. We started gradually and have used the down time when there’s no raw material to clean the equipment. Apart from that we’re working shifts around the clock and an ideal landing for us is when the pelagic vessels bring 600 to 700 tonnes,’ he said, commenting that the mackerel are larger and better than they were last year.

The factory has a staff of around a hundred.

Fishing for mackerel has been steady recently, with the fleet working further east than they were to begin with. This means that the distance to steam to Vopnafjörður is shorter than it was a week ago. The prospect is that the mackerel should keep production active to late September or into October, when herring production takes over.

About HB Grandi

HB Grandi hf. is one of Iceland’s largest seafood companies. The company has a long history and extensive experience and expertise in the utilisation of natural resources and fish production, which is reflected in all its activities. The company focuses on sophisticated fishing and processing technology and continuous production development. The company produces high-quality products from the fresh wild fish caught in Icelandic waters. Respect for the environment and the marine ecosystem is the basis for all activities at HB Grandi, and every effort is made to respect the resource and operate responsible fisheries, for the benefit of future generations. HB Grandi emphasises corporate social responsibility, as it has always been the goal of the company that all its activities reflect its responsibility towards the marine resources and the community.

HB Grandi is engaged in the fishing and processing of groundfish and pelagic fish. The company employs approximately 800 people at sea and on land. The products are sold all over the world, with the largest markets being Europe, Asia and North America.

HB Grandi has integrated operations in fishing, processing and marketing in order to promote efficient production and ensure an unrestricted pathway from catch to markets. It is easy to trace the route of the product from delivery all the way back to the sea. The key to the company’s success lies in its excellent staff, both at sea and on land, who are committed to delivering quality products to buyers and consumers.

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