87 arrivals for the period
Whitefish totalled 18,200 boxes from seventeen Scottish trawl and a single Anglo long-liner. The Scottish lads have returned to Rockall in search of haddock and monkfish with mixed results. Ther
Harbour News 27 February – 26 March 2024, 87 arrivals for the period
Whitefish totalled 18,200 boxes from seventeen Scottish trawl and a single Anglo long-liner. The Scottish lads have returned to Rockall in search of haddock and monkfish with mixed results. There seems to be an abundance of small haddock on the grounds with a less than usual proportion of larger specimens. Good to see decent recruitment to the stock but as small fish command a much lower price, boats are struggling to make ends meet given the high cost of fuel and expenses. Some boats have headed north to try their luck closer to home. The Anglo fleet remains in the north landing into Shetland and Scrabster.
Shellfish activity has been very busy comprising 45 landings from prawn trawlers working the north and south Minches and landing here twice weekly. The boats arrive late evening land their catches and take on fuel and ice before heading off in the early hours to start fishing as daylight breaks.
Non-fishing was once again steady. There were eighteen arrivals from the aquaculture sector for crew changes, fuel and maintenance. In addition, the Aqua Viknes landed three loads of harvested farmed salmon for onward transportation to the processor in Dingwall. The survey vessels Viking Reach, Star of Faith and Proteus spent a couple of weeks surveying between Lewis and Little Lochbroom in advance of a subsea cable installation. MCA tug Ievoli Black called in for her monthly crew change and the magnificent tall ship Christian Radich called in on her way home to Norway after wintering in the Canaries. The ship spends the winter in the sunshine with groups of sponsored youngsters on-board learning the ropes.