It took Kirkella six days of steaming to reach the fishing waters near the Flemish Cap from its home port in Hull. The crew counts twenty-eight, but there are twenty-nine onboard because they are joined by an inspector from The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), who is there to observe the fishing, processing and recording of the catch. NAFO regulates fishing activities around the Flemish Cap, ensuring the long-term conservation and sustainable utilisation of fishery resources in the North-West Atlantic.
Sigurdsson notes that Kirkella’s presence at the Flemish Cap is due to increased fishing opportunities in the area, because of an increase in the stock size and the resulting positive scientific advice. This was welcome after the vessel faced reduced quotas elsewhere, such as in Norwegian waters in the Barents Sea, where quotas have decreased significantly due to Brexit.
“Vessel management in the North Atlantic involves constant reevaluation. Kirkella only operates with quotas, and our presence at the Flemish Cap stems from increased opportunities here. The crew has prior experience in these waters. I was here on the Margrét EA trawler and the Norma Mary, catching shrimp, but this is my first time fishing for cod in these waters. We arrived on April 1st after six days. We were quite lucky with the weather, so the trip has gone well so far,” says Sigurdsson.
All catch is produced, frozen and ready-packed in Kirkella-branded boxes
in the onboard factory.