The course of fisheries as per week 14/2018
Another good week for blue whiting.
Some North Sea herring, but not the best conditions, - sand eel quota fulfilled, steady catching at the edge for blue whiting and the first catches of mackerel up north are taken.
North Sea herring
Neither last week was particularly good for the North Sea
herring. The catches are mainly small and the matjes quality is
absent, - in any case when it comes to volumes and so far this
quality is "hit" in the EU zone only.
The total volume last week was 7.000 MT of which 985 MT were sold
at the auction being displayed; 595 MT in Egersund and 390 MT in
Skagen. The herring landed in Skagen had an average of 120 -127 g
and was paid from NOK 4,09 to 7,30. The herring landed in Egersund
was somewhat better sized with an average from 132-164 g. Prices;
from NOK 5,21 to 6,25. The matjes quality has mainly been
caught NW of Frigg, grid 4254, but also some catches have been
caught in grids 4243 and 4244. For those vessels aiming for herring
to be fileted, and that is in fact the major number of vessels, the
catching has been performed close to Oseberg, grid 2851-52 and
0855. One catch of 140 MT was taken in the EU zone. The size varies
from 164 g (EU zone) to 211 g. The price for this herring was from
NOK 4,- to 5,- with an average price at NOK 4,37.
Sand eel
Last week 4.200 MT of sand eel were registered.
Consequently the quota is now fulfilled for sand eel. A couple of
vessels have still a modest quantity left. The price level for sand
eel last week was from NOK 2,03 - 2,09.
Blue whiting
Last week close to 3.800 MT were registered. One of the
catches was taken in the Faroese zone, grid 3108; 760 MT. The
remaining part has been caught along the edge from the Egersund
Bank to Viking. This raw material has been sold for reduction
purposes in Norway and Denmark. Prices; from NOK 1,67 to 1,92. Some
other species have been mixed in.
Mackerel
The very first catches of this season's mackerel up north
were taken last week. The catches were taken in the Vestfjorden,
grid 0004 and 0010. Accumulated volume was 140 MT and the
size of the catch varies from 7 to 80 MT. Average size of the
mackerel; 480 - 500 g.
In southern areas some mackerel has been penned-in; - close to 80
MT. The major part has been sold as fresh catch. The price
level in northern areas; NOK 8,- while the fresh catch in south was
sold at NOK 15,- .
There is still some mackerel penned-in with a portion of
uncertainty whether being sold for fresh consumption or not, with
an alternative possibility to be frozen. As the price for fresh
mackerel is the best, the hope is of course to sell the mackerel
for fresh consumption, but some of it is likely to be sold to
alternative usage.
In the forthcoming week higher activity is expected in the northern
areas where the catching will depend om favorable weather and at
least to some extent "summerly" temperatures, - something being
scares all over the country this late spring/early summer
weeks.
Other species
270 MT of Atlanto Scandic herring were registered last
week, taken in the Vestfjorden - and sold for bate purposes.
Pelagia is established in Skagen, Denmark, producing marinated herring.
This season’s best week for blue whiting – and the capelin quota, close to be taken.
On April 3, 2018, the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) will introduce new booking regulations for ordering marine pilots. The regulations will thus be formalized and merged into one set ? Regulations on Compulsory Pilotage.
The season for capelin in the Barents Sea towards an end, but still high activity for blue whiting – if weather is cooperative.
A "marvelous" week for capelin in the Barents Sea, but stormy for the blue whiting vessels.
Norges Sildesalgslags has implemented some minor changes in the auction validation-rules for catches sold at auctions through Norges sildesalgslag