Fishing the News 1.edition 2015

Bringing you news, knowledge and innovation from Iceland

1st e d i to n april 2015

Contents

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26

» New association uniting the Fishing industry

Fisheries Iceland is based on broadened concept of the fishing industry wich includes innovative and specialised producers, sales, marketing and various fisheries services.

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» EU application cancelled

Haukur Mar Gestsson and Jon Steindor Valdimarsson express their opinion on that matter.

» Solving the lice problem

The lumpfish enters the seaweed and soon after begins to eat the lice from the salmon.

$680 million

460

thousand tons

180

$340 million

thousand tons

1981

2011 Total cod catch

1981

2011

22

Export value (present value)

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» Icelandic fleet reborn

Icelandic company´s have invested heavily in wet-fish trawlers and pelagic vessel´s lately.

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» Collagen from Icelandic cod

The main ingredients used for all the products comes from the pure Icelandic ocean.

» Twice the value for half the catch

The top seafood businesses have archived almost 95% utilisation of each cod caught

A GREEN LINE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC Eimskip's Green Line increases the number of voyages between North America, Canada, Newfoundland and Europe.

The new sailing schedule will increase service reliability and respond to our customers' needs of direct services without transshipments. The new sailing schedule will increase the number of voyages per year between Europe and North America by five.

Nuuk Greenland

Ísafjördur

St. Anthony

Iceland

NL, Canada

Grundartangi

Akureyri Iceland

Iceland

Reydarfjördur

REYKJAVÍK

Iceland

Iceland

Portland Maine, US

Boston

Halifax NS, Canada

Argentia NL, Canada

Tromsø

Hammerfest

Norway

Norway

Sortland

Vestmannaeyjar

MA, US

Båtsfjord

Norway

Klaksvík

Iceland

Norway

Faroe Islands

TÓRSHAVN

Kirkenes Norway

Faroe Islands

Tvøroyri

Sandnessjoen

Faroe Islands

Norway

Murmansk

Ålesund

Scrabster

Russia

Norway

Scotland

Måloy Norway

Bergen

Aberdeen

Norway

Scotland

Stavanger Norway

Fredrikstad Norway

Grimsby England

Immingham

Helsinki

Halmstad

England

Århus

Finnland

Sweden

Denmark

Swinoujscie

Vigo Spain

Porto

Portugal

Lisbon Portugal

Korngardar 2 | 104 Reykjavík | Iceland | Tel. +354 525 7000 | www.eimskip.com

Velsen

ROTTERDAM

The Netherlands

The Netherlands

Hamburg Germany

Poland

Riga Lettland

Szczecin Poland

Gdynia

Klaipeda

Poland

Litháen

St. Petersburg Russia

Iceland ahead for years to come For hundreds of years, Icelandic fishermen have fought the ocean to provide food for a young nation in a barren country. In the latter part of the 20th century, Iceland was among the pioneers in expanding its territorial waters to 200 nautical miles. This was a real struggle and required national solidarity; solidarity which has provided the Icelandic nation with one of the strongest and profitable fishing industry in the world.

The industry has had to take on many demanding tasks along the way over the last few decades. Before the adoption of the fishing quota system the industry was dealing with problems of overinvestment and overfishing of certain fish stocks. Companies were too many and too small, lacking capacity to meet fluctuations in fishery or market prices and demand – not to mention their lack of resources for investments or innovation. Since the advent of the fishing quota system in 1984, solid ground was established for companies to control their fishing and processing, coalesce and strengthen their position as well as the communities in which they operate. But why am I talking about the expansion of the territorial waters and the fishing quota system? It is because these two major decisions brought about a fishing industry that initiates innovation, development and the welfare of the nation. This is a unique reality among coastal states; unique because we had the courage and vision to take difficult decisions.

The Icelandic fishing industry is in constant development and it is remarkable to observe companies shooting up around the industry, developing ideas and constantly finding new ways of maximizing the utilization and quality of the products. Thus, a new industry has emerged around the fishing industry, operating and competing in an international market environment – in industry that evolved from serving one of the most demanding fisheries sectors in the world. Direct jobs in the Icelandic fishing industry are about 9,000 and indirect jobs are about 28,000 and have increased enormously in recent years.

When I was growing up, in a fishing village in the East Fjords, all fish byproducts were thrown away. The filets were frozen and sent to the USA or UK in containers. Today – with the help of an excellent cooperation with MATÍS, among other things – a variety of companies, large and small, have managed to establish themselves, making use of byproducts that were dumped before. These companies are producing materials for medicinal products, cosmetics, diet supplements, omega oils and curative bandages made from cod fish skin, just to name a few. We used to throw away all the heads, but now geothermal energy is used to dry the cod heads to produce an export value of 8 billion ISK. A number of innovative companies operate from the Iceland Ocean Cluster, where young people combine their efforts in development and innovation within the scope of the fisheries sector; young people creating new opportunities which will increase value and utilization and thus contribute to increased profitability in the sector for the benefit of the Icelandic population.

The traditional fish processing has also changed much in recent decades. Innovation in processing and technology has greatly improved the quality and value of products – from catch to process. In the consumer‘s mind, fish from Iceland is a quality product. Every day, dozens of tons of fish are flown directly to our markets abroad. The system we work by enables us to coordinate catching, processing and sales into one continuous value chain. This makes the Icelandic fisheries sector unique and strengthens further our long-term business relationships overseas.

The Icelandic fisheries sector has a bright future. The industry is prepared to take on new challenges and expanding into new markets. Our job is to continue on our path – unafraid of changes or seizing new opportunities. This is how the Icelandic fishing industry maintains its position in the frontline for years to come.

Jens Garðar Helgason, Chairman of Fisheries Iceland

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Seafood Industry

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New Icelandic fish chips

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his summer, the pioneer company Breki will bring to market Icelandic fish chips, a natural superfood made from 100% dried fish and consisting of 80% protein. Breki is owned by the CEO Kristinn Jón Ólafsson, Guðbergur Magnússon, production manager, and Þórdís Jóhannsdóttir Wathne CFO. The product development process for the chips has taken one year with the needs of the consumers being of primary concern. » Innovation is exciting When Kristinn came from Norway three years ago, he was a graduate with a master in innovation and entrepreneurship. “I decided early on to focus on sectors within which Icelanders have great expertise with, i.e. the energy sector and the fishing industry.”

Kristinn emphasises that the fishing sector was the most interesting for him. This was not least because of the opportunities he saw in the development of new products. Subsequently he joined the Iceland Ocean Cluster, where he worked on various projects. Ég leit aðeins í kringum mig The idea to develop the dried fish in a accessible

og ákvað að skoða sérstaklega geira þar sem Íslendingar sköruðu fram úr sem var annars vegar orkugeirinn og hins vegar sjávarútvegur.

format that is both appealing and convenient for tourists has taken into account the ideas and wishes of consumers.

“We had to talk to potential customers from the first day when developing a product,” says Þórdís. “It is after all the customer who is consuming the product and it is important that they are part of the process.” Kristinn adds that the importance of the product appearance was immediately clear.”

“The development process has been very exciting because in Iceland, the people have many different opinions on dried fish, especially since the Icelandic people have been consuming dried fish since th settlement period.”

It has been very interesting to see people’s response to our ideas and we have emphasised them to be extremely open and honest in their feedback. That is what we need when we are developing a new product. The trial and errer process is very important, it is the backbone of what we do.

The company estimates that they will launch the product this coming summer, but it remains to be seen how the Icelandic people and the tourist market will react before heading abroad with Breki. n

Facts about Icelandic fisheries The fishing quota system was introduced in 1983 Fishery has been practiced since the age of settlement.

Between 2008 and 2012 the cod quota was increased from 150 thousand tons to 200 thousand tons.

til þess að t.d ferðamenn ákveði almennt að koma í ljós. Breki hefur til þessa m.a. byggt á The full processing of any kind of material becomes more important to In 1902 a motor was installed in the boat Stanley in Ísafjörður and in 1905 the að kaupa vöruna.

Við erum svo vanaföst styrk sem hlaust frá Vaxtarsamningi Suðurnesja Icelandic fisheries every year. The products include medicine, cosmetics, motorboat Coot was purchased from Scotland, which marks the beginning of na og harðfiskurinn lítur oftast eins út, flak og segir Þórdís að slíkir styrkir séu mikilvægir dietary supplements, foodstuffs, fodder, health nutrition and more. the motorization of the Icelandic fleet. þau of all pelagic catch is landed at a few ports in the East Fjords and asti með hvítum og bláum miða. Það er ekki frumkvöðlafyrirtækjum til að koma undir About 80% In 1980, fish products made up about 60% of Iceland’s export, this percentage fótunum. „Í dag höfum við fólk og fjármagn tilIslands. g spennandi fyrir útlendinga sem vita ekk Westman was down to 34% in 2005.

Við hvað þetta er eða hvernig á að borða þetta því að fullklára vöruna og koma henni í búðir.

Marine export increased by 5% between the years of 2012 and 2013 and export In 2013, Icelanders sold frozen whole round mackerel to Russia erum því ekki að leita að fjárfestum núna þótt by 2.2%, in spite of catch decline. er hvergi tekið fram á miðunum.“ production for 8.9 billion ISK. Um leið og an hefur verið færð nær einhverju sem ferða- maður viti auðvitað ekkert um hvað gerist síð 5 years before, no mackerel was caught in Iceland.

3,965 tons of salmon was harvested in 2014. nn þekkja sértu kominn nær því að þeir kaupi ar,“ segir hún.

In 2008, 94% of the mackerel catch was processed into fishmeal and fishoil.

3,411 tons of arctic charr was harvested. una og það sé mikilvægt að gera sér grein Now, less than 20% of the catch is processed in that way.

Iceland has 87 harbors. r þessu á meðan þróun vörunnar stendur yfir. Gott að ræða hlutina við aðra unarferlið hefur verið mjög skemmtilegt því Kristinn segir að sjávarútvegur sé mjög spennhafa allir skoðun á harðfiski. Það hefur því andi fyrir ungt fólk í dag þar sem í honum séu t.d ð mjög áhugavert að fá viðbrögð fólks við mörg tækifæri til að fullvinna hráefnið meira og FISHING t he NEWS A pr i l 2015 6 ar hugmyndum og við höfum lagt áherslu á gera það enn verðmætara. Margir hafi líka upp-

Collagen from Icelandic cod Hrönn Margrét Magnúsdóttir, 34 years old, founded the start-up company Ankra with two other women in the year 2013.

The company brings an innovative solution in anti-aging by offering both food supplements and skincare products that complement each other, working from the inside out and outside in. The main ingredients used for all the products come from the pure Icelandic ocean. Hydrolyzed marine collagen and powerful enzymes derived from the Icelandic cod are the key ingredients in the first two products branded under the name Feel Iceland.

The idea came when Hrönn was based in the enHrönn Margrét trepreneurial center in the Icelandic Ocean ClusMagnúsdóttir. ter when discussing ideas how to better utilize fish skin. By transforming fish skin into hydrolyzed collagen the value of the fish skin increases fast. By examining the market Hrönn found that collagen, often used in skin care products, can also be used as a food supplement and in fact many clinical studies indicate that con-

suming collagen can both reduce joint pain and increase skin elasticity, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The company Ankra was founded around the idea of offering a solution in anti-aging that works from the inside out and outside, improving health and appearances, while increasing the value of byproducts.

In 2014 Ankra launched its first product, Feel Iceland Amino Collagen, a high quality hydrolyzed marine collagen for consumption. Later that year the company launched its first skin care product, a facial serum called Be Kind – Age Rewind, containing super active marine enzymes as well as marine collagen.

Ankra has an ambitious product pipeline and more products on the way this year.

“We have a very strict criteria when it comes to quality and ingredients in our product development and we are also concerned about our environment and put emphasis on being sustainable throughout the whole process. The feedback and testimonials we have gotten from our customers are beyond our expectations, so we are very happy. ” Ankra started exporting its products to Denmark in January this year. n

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Icelandic fleet reborn

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Reporter: Ásgeir Jónsson

celandic companies have invested heavily in wet-fish trawlers and pelagic vessels lately , with 12 new ships will be joining the fishing fleet in coming years and two new ships where also delivered in 2012 and 2013.

The vessels will be delivered in the next two to three years, and the total investment amounts up to around 275 million euros.

ing effects on the companies that have to have a clear vision for the future. This may also have had its say on why there hasn‘t been more investment within the industry.“

»» Long over due Hallveig Ólafsdóttir.

The investment was long over due; according Economist at to a study made by economist Hallveig Ólafs- Fisheries Iceland dóttir and Ingvi Þór Georgsson MSc in inter- - SFS. national business, the average age of an Icelandic vessel longer than 60 meters is 26 years. By comparison, the Norwegian fleet is 14 years old on average for ships in the same class.

“First and foremost, the new ships will mean lower cost through reduced fuel consumption. They will also add value through better product handling on board with better equipment. This is an important factor when you are harvesting a limited natural resource,”says Hallveig. She says it will also increase safety on board and reduce maintenance costs, translating into greater efficiency over all.

» Two for One Bjarki Vigfússon, economist at Iceland Ocean Cluster, has analysed the investment wave recently and at the Cluster Bjarki Vigfússon. says that it was long over due: “It was a neEconomist at the cessity in most cases. The replacements Icelandic Ocean take the place of vessels that are more than Cluster.

40 years old. Needless to say, the technological advancements in that time period have been tremendous, of course, when it comes to energy consumption, processing, safety, facilities and more. Replacing the vessels has been a positive development on all fronts .”

Bjarki further notes that in some cases, the new ships are replacing two older ones. “As a result some companies will be catching the same amount of fish but spending far less on oil and maintenance,“ which both lowers cost and reduces the carbon footprint.

»» Unstable politics Hallveig says that it is good news that Icelandic fishing companies are going through rennovation of their fleet. Although some ships may be old but hold new equipment. It is essential to not only focus on age, but it is a strong indicator of the need for more investment. „In order for the companies to plan ahead appropriately, there is a need for political and legislative stability for companies to work within. Much uncertainty at a macro level can have damag-

»» Icelands best years It’s not only necessity that drives the new wave of investment.

The Icelandic fishing industry has been doing exceptionally well after the economic crisis in 2008. “I think it’s safe to say that the industry has seen it’s best years of late,“ says Bjarki. “The equity ratio of the industry turned around from being negative 550 million euros by the end of 2008 to a positive 720 million euros in 2012. Following the economic crisis in 2008, the debt ratio and overall balance sheet of the fisheries was not in good shape,

Export of fresh fillets and loins (all species) from Iceland 1997-2013 Kg

40,000,000 Fresh fillets and lions.

35,000,000

I think it’s safe to say that the industry has seen it’s best years of late.

30,000,000 25,000,000 20,000,000 15,000,000 10,000,000 5,000,000 0

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 *Data from Statistics Iceland

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Venus. One of the new Icelandic ships. Build for HB Grandi in Turkey.

Equity ratio of the Icelandic fishing industry Average age of the Icelandic and Norwegian fleet in 2013/2014

Million EUR 800

Length (m) Age (Ice) Age (Nor)

600

21-27

400 200 0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

-200 -400 -600

22 28

28-29

24

30-34

46

24 19

35-39

39

19

40-44

33

23 29

45-49

36

50-54

31

23

55-59

31

20

>60

26

14

TWA 31 22 *TWA = Total weighted average

-800 *Analysis by the Icelandic Ocean Cluster

*Analysis by Hallveig Ólafsdóttir and Ingvi Þór Georgasson

mainly due to the foreign debt that doubled over night when the Icelandic króna collapsed in late 2008. In the 7 years since, profits have been at record highs; again, this is mainly because of the collapse of the Icelandic króna, but is also due to other factors.

There has been a real turn-around, gradually creating this opportunity to finally start renewing the Icelandic fleet.” »» The wet-fish trend As previously mentioned, before nine of the twelve new vessels were wet-fish trawlers. There has been a major shift in Icelandic fisheries in recent years from freezer trawlers to wet-fish. There are a number of reasons for, including that more and more companies are exporting fresh fish, processing in land is cheaper, more efficient, provides more opportunities in product development and in raw material utiliatio.

According to Kristján Hjaltason, advisor at Facts of Seafood, fresh cod fillets and loins were the most valuable export product in the industry in 2013, with fish meal and then frozen mackerel coming second and third. According to data from Statistics Iceland, export of fresh fillets and loins rose from about 11,000 tonnes in the year 2000 up to more than 34,000 tonnes in 2013.

The majority of this is cod. In 2013, around 70% of exported fresh fillets and loins came from cod.

In total, there are seven companies investing in the twelve new

Engey. Wet-fish trawler build in Turkey for HB Grandi.

fishing ships. HB Grandi have made the biggest investment. They are buying two pelagic vessels and three wet-fish trawlers. Samherji has invested in two wet-fish trawlers and ÚA, FISK Seafood, H-G and VSV in one each. Rammi has also invested in a freezer trawler and the two pelagic. n A pr i l 2015

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CATCHING FISH

IN HARMONY WITH NATURE With our own vessels and our own production we bring our partners high quality Icelandic fish products, caught and cared for in harmony with nature.

GOING TO BRUSSELS? VISIT US AT OUR NEW STAND HALL 7, BOOTH 1553 www.hbgrandi.com/expo

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Fisheries management for sustainability requires joint effort

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By Kolbeinn Árnason chief executive officer of Fisheries Iceland.

good reproductive capacity and good proceeds from n November 2014 Fisheries Iceland, a new association our fishing effort. The FAO Code also defines the main uniting the Icelandic fishing industry, was formed. tool known as „fishery management plan“ and conFisheries Iceland is based on a broder concept of the fishing industry that includes innovative and specialtains the objectives and long term harvesting policy.

The main Icelandic fisheries are now managed accordised producers, sales, marketing and various fisheries services. Fisheries Iceland began with the merger ing to precautionary fishery management plans and we of the Icelandic associations of fishing vessel owners continue to develop such plans and policies for an inand fish processing plants and continues to grow as increasing number more of our fish stocks and species.

Making the transition to sustainable management novative and specialised companies join the organisais never easy. Difficulties stem in part from the fact tion. Fisheries Iceland intends to be a strong forum for Kolbeinn Árnason. that managing for long term environmental and socideveloping and promoting sustainable fisheries.

The Icelandic economy is critically dependent on fisheries. oeconomic benefits often entails initial short term hardship.

Fisheries directly account for 10% of our GDP, 45% of the value This is because the act of reducing fishing effort and rebuildof exported goods and 25% of total export earnings. Because ing fish stocks that have declined inevitably leads to lower of this we have no choice but to manage our fisheries respon- catches in the short term. A successful shift to management sibly with the objectives of conservation and sustainable use for sustainability thus normally requires careful planning in of fisheries resources as well as ensuring a broad context. The criticism is sometimes made that when shifting to sustainability many jobs are lost. This claim, when good economic return from the industry.

The sustainable use of fisheries re- seen in context, is misleading because jobs based on overfishsources has its basis in marine research ing are not sustainable. Thus, as well management of fisheries and scientific advice. The Icelandic fish- for conservation and sustainable use delivers environmental, ing industry has a long history of support- economic and social benefits in the long run.

Success in sustainble fisheries management requires coming marine research, both in word and deed. Thus, there have been a variety of mitment from all parties, including government and industry, joint efforts by government scientists and and significant investment in scientific research and managefishing companies for better data collec- ment measures. This is an ongoing process of learning and tion as well as research effort using com- development. In recent years there is increased emphasis on ecosystem consideration in this context. This includes work mercial fishing vessels.

The key to the sustainable use of fisher- towards a better understanding of vulnerable marine ecosysies resources is the concept and practice tems and sensitive habitats and management measures to limof the Precautionary Approach to Fish- it and minimise adverse impacts. The Icelandic fishing induseries Management. This approach is de- try is supportive of the work required to meet these challenges.

It is clear that we have our tasks set out for us. We must refined and further elucidated in the 1995 Food and Agricultural administration (FAO) Code of Conduct doble our efforts and continue to improve in our fisheries manfor Responsible Fisheries, a most progressive document that agement and environmental practices. Unavoidably, mistakes still provides guidance and remains challenging for fisheries will be made along the way, yet if we maintain and increase managers worldwide now as its 20 year anniversary is being our efforts and commitments we are confident that we will concelebrated. tinue to do better and better. Let us, however, make sure that The precautionary approach instructs us to limit fishing to all parties involved understand that this is an ongoing process. the point where there is a low risk of fish stocks declining beFisheries Iceland is determined to stay vigilant in its developlow predefined levels, thus ensuring healthy fish stocks with ment and promotion of sustainable fisheries. n

Fisheries directly account for 10% of our GDP, 45% of the value of exported goods and 25% of total export earnings.

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ÍSLENSKA SIA.IS ICE 69672 06/14 ÍSLENSKA SIA.IS ICE 69196 05/14

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Solving the lice problem

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he fish farming company Stofnfiskur hf. has so far focused on salmon ova and raising salmon fry, but since last autumn the company has also had tanks full of lumpfish juveniles. We talked to Sölvi Sturluson who is the station manager at Stofnfiskur lumpfish farm, and asked him about how that came to be. “It all started with a client in the Faeroe Islands who buys salmon eggs from us. He contacted us and asked if we could help him solve a problem. His problem was that like most salmon farmers in the Faroe Islands, he has to deal with a lice problem in the salmon cages,” says Sölvi. “We jointly contacted the Marine Research Institute and soon after began working in co-operation on a solution to his problem.” The idea of​​ using lumpfish to eat the lice comes from Norway, where the project has been in development for some years. The lumpfish is very well suited for the job, better than other species that have tested for the same purpose. The reason is that as the lumpfish is a natural fish in the northern hemisphere it can better withstand changes in temSölvi Sturluson. perature due to its hardy nature. Lumpfish juveniles are smaller than the salmon in the cages and are not in competition with salmon for its feed. After the lumpfish has arrived in the Faroe Islands it’s put in sea cages where it finds artificial seaweed, that is specially prepared for them. The lumpfish enters the seaweed and soon after begins to eat lice from the salmon.

“We say for fun that they’re getting a snack when they eat the lice because we continue to feed them in the bundles as well. »» Keep track of the entire process.

“After the Marine Research Institute had procured hatchery fish, they started to strip the eggs and fertilize. The fertilization was a

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brilliant success, and they were able to deliver juveniles to us for farming, “says Sölvi. Thus, the project began. “So far, all steps in the process have been good ones and everything has worked very well out.” Sölvi says it is always a lottery when you start raising a new species, but so far things have gone well. “The Marine Research Institute managed to get a good start and we went into a partnership with them. We got half of what they were able to fertilize and we now have about two hundred thousand fry. Together, we have around four or five hundred thousand lumpfish, “ he says. Stofnfiskur intends to start fertilizing the eggs from their own broodstock this year and keep track of the entire process. “Both we and the MRI have a fixed agreement with the Faroe Islands and we support one another very well.” The lumpfish fry grows very fast and when the juveniles reach 5-6 months and weigh between 20 and 25 grams they are shipped out.

Everything is done in good cooperation with the Faroese clients and they work on developing the project together too. “There were small problems to start with, as is to be expected, but we dealt with them and I think we are on the right track now. There are of course sometimes delays due to the weather, but this is to be expected also. “ »» Great potential At the moment the Faroese buy everything that Stofnfiskur and the MRI produce but Sölvi says that if Stofnfiskur is successful in fertilizing and startfeeding , they plan to increase the production. “It depends on the market of course but there is great interest in the project abroad, as people see this as a good solution to the persistent lice problem.” He says that the lumpfish cleans a large amount of lice off the salmon and that it keeps the lice prob-

The lumpfish fry grows very fast and when the juveniles reach 5-6 months and weigh between 20 and 25 grams they are shipped out. lem down, eliminating the need to use expensive chemicals to get rid of the lice. Salmon producers prefer to avoid using delousing products as much as possible, partially because the lice become resistant to these products over time. A good example of how interesting people find the opportunity of raising lumpfish is that lumpfish farms are now sprouting all over Norway and Norwegians are planning to hatch around 20 million lumpfish fingerlings this year. “We at Stofnfiskur are of course primarily producing salmon ova but this goes very well together and we find it advantageous to help our customers to combat the sealice, and to be able to offer our clients to sell them both salmon ova and lumpfish fry at the same time. We have certainly detected a great deal of interest in the project but it is, of course, still in development so we will have to wait and see. n

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New passenger planes to join Icelandair‘s fleet

Performance will triple

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wo jumbo jets will be added Icelandair‘s airplane fleet next spring, which will bring about significant changes to Icelandair Cargo‘s freight flight. The planes are scheduled to begin service in March next year. »» More freight supply Two Boeing 767 300 jumbo jets will be added to Icelandair‘s passenger plane fleet in March of 2016. Each jet carries over three times more cargo than the current 757 jet. “This will make a big difference for us,” says Gunnar Már Sigurfinnsson, Icelandair Cargo’s Managing Director. “We have been using our two freight planes and Icelandair’s 757 passenger planes. There is a considerable difference between the 767 and the 757. The jumbo jet is significantly larger and can carry three times more than the 757 jet.

Take the Boston plane for example. Fully booked in seats and cargo, the plane now carries four tons at the most, but the new plane will be able to carry up to fourteen tons, fully booked. Then, of course, when it is not fully seated, there is room for more freight.”

The plan is to use the planes mainly for flights to Boston and New York so that there will be daily freight capacity to both America and London and Amsterdam on the European side. »» Improved freight handling The jumbo jets employ container loading like the freight planes and the cargo is loaded into the cargo space in containers, whereas now the passenger planes have to be loaded by hand. “This will greatly improve freight handling and reliability. We will be able to load containers under optimal conditions in the warehouse and transfer them to the plane. This shortens the loading time and the time that the cargo has to stand in the lot, which is very important with products such as fish.“ Other conditions have also greatly improved, but the Icelandair Cargo warehouse was enlarged by 20% at the turn of the year by the construction of a cold storage space. “The main difference is that the whole space is cooled and we can prepare the freight inside under optimal conditions.” Gunnar says that this will greatly improve product treatment from before, when products were prepared in an uncooled space and special coolers used to keep the products cold.

“It’s obviously much better for the product to be kept in optimal conditions the whole time, which is now the case.” »» Not as depended on import The new planes were announced at the Boston Seafood Show and Gunnar says that the news was very well received. “Getting all air

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our freight to destinations on the East Coast of North America has been a bit problematic, so this is a great advancement for that market.” Scheduled air service to Boston since this January is another contribution to the meeting of freight demand, and is an addition to scheduled freight to New York, but Icelandair Cargo is the first air carrier in Europe to begin flights to Boston. The flight will continue until Easter, when its success will be assessed and decisions made regarding its continuation. “We should be able to see then whether there is a need for the plane. If so, the flight will continue.” The main obstacle to increasing freight flight is the fact that import decreased a lot after the bank collapse in 2008 and has not reached the same heights since. “Since the dive of energy prices we have not been as dependent on imports which has helped us a lot regarding the Boston flight.” Gunnar says that the new planes will also be used for the European market and mentions cities like London and Amsterdam. “Of course we make use of all passenger flights along with our own flights and because of the large number of European destinations, we have been able to meet freight demand for that market.” Since freight demand from Iceland to the United States has been more than the company has been able to fully meet, cargo flights from Europe to America have been infrequent. “When we have had space available, we have flown cargo from Europe to Boston and New York, but have only been able to meet a small portion of the demand. With the new planes, the possibility of accepting forwarded freight will also greatly increase.” »» A part of our future fleet Gunnar says that the alternative of getting these new planes has been present for some time because the companies are constantly looking for ways to improve their services. He says that the decision is recent and that these planes will become part of Icelandair‘s future fleet and a necessary investment. “They don’t make the Boeing 757 anymore, the planes the company uses today and the 767 is a step towards renewing our fleet.” Gunnar recognizes the magnitude of the investment, but claims that renewing the fleet is necessary if the company is to maintain its competitive position. “We are always aware of the importance of an efficient distribution network for Icelandic companies and by increasing freight flights we hope to help Icelandic fish to gain an even stronger position in the important markets of the United States and Europe. When we handle transportation, the fish can be on the plate in less than 48 hours from when it was caught. That is hard to compete, even for domestic producers in the United Stated, Canada and Europe.” n

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Lumpfish fisheries receives a certification

L

umpfish fisheries have just received a certification according to the standard issued by the Marine Stewardship Counsil (MSC).

It is not the largest stock in Iceland or among most valuable commercial products, as the quantity is very limited. But the fishery is of great importance to a good number of smaller fisheries and processors.

The Icelandic Sustainable Fisheries (ISF) client group is the owner of the certification, and the way ISF operates, all Icelandic registered vessels, holding a lumpfish permit, can now fish from a certified lumpfish stock. The fish and the roe are in many cases processed for export in smaller towns and smaller facilities, in addition to local, state of the art food production companies, which pack the roe for consumers and retail distribution. Many of the fisheries are family owned, as well as some smaller production facilities. The fisherment start laying their nets in late March, which in Iceland can mean middle of winter, and the season lasts until July, with specific rules on how many days each fishery can fish.

Lumpfish really is a rarity. In comparison with TAC’s for most other species, the landed supply of lumpfish and lumpfish roe makes it a treat. Although the roe has been available for decades, it was only recently that the fish it self was made available for export. Some say that it has similar texture and cooking qualities as monkfish. With such a small TAC, it could be suggested that lumpfish should be treated and marketed as a rarity. Because it actually is a rarity and for sure makes for a nutricious and tasty dish. So perhaps, there is some product development underway to increase the market value of a fish which is only available in small but sustainable quantities.

The roe from lumpfish is a real delicacy and in the hands of quality producers, the lumpfish roe can stand comparison with caviar as we know it. The lumpfish stock is sustainable around Iceland and is the first and only available MSC certified lumpfish, the gillnets have a minimal effect on other marine life. The Icelandic fishermen know that it is a broad

The fisherment start laying their nets in late March, which in Iceland can mean middle of winter, and the season lasts until July, with specific rules on how many days each fishery can fish.

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collaboration to achieve and maintain a sustainable resource, which is why on board logging of unwanted catch will be improved this year. Fishermen are required to hand their log books to the Directorate of Fisheries, which analyzes and stores the data.

Lumpfish roe gives that great feeling of carefully prepared appetizers as they fill the mouth with salty miniature explosions as they pop one by one between your teeth. Lumpfish roe is an actual choice when you’re looking for caviar - and it is sustainable which means that the stock in Iceland is regenerating it self, the management system allows for responsible fisheries and the fishing methods do not harm other marine life.

ISF was founded in July 2012, by 19 stakeholders who were the original members. Today, ISF has 38 members ranging from fisheries, producers and exporters. ISF is built on a unique setup which enables all chain of custody holders to share the MSC fisheries certifications owned by ISF and approved by accredited certification agencies.

The purpose of the ISF group is management and services regarding certification according to MSC for the sustainability of Icelandic fish stocks, as deemed realistic. ISF now holds certifications for six highly commercially valuable species; cod, haddock, saithe, golden redfish, herring and lumpfish. This represents roughly 45% of Icelandic supply by volume. At ISF, it is important to continue MSC coverage of all species caught in Icelandic waters – including those of less commercial significance.

In many ways, Icelandic fisheries management has been exemplary for decades and now enjoys the benefits of both, a sustainable and profitable resource. It is the resource which has set the foundation for quality of living in Iceland, along with its renewable, low cost energy resources. By emphasizing sustainablity of Icelandic fisheries, with an increasing number of MSC certifications, continued improvement and research projects, the business case for sustainability can become visible to all. n

FISHERIES IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC Iceland •

ISF Cod

•

ISF Haddock

•

ISF, Atlanto scandian herring and Iceland summer spawning herring

•

ISF Saithe

•

ISF redfish

•

ISF Gillnet lumpfish

Faroe Island •

Faroe Island saithe

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Faroe Island queen Scallop

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Faroe Island Silver smelt

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Faroe North east arctic cod

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Faroe North east arctic haddock

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FPO Herring (suspended)

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Faroe North East arctic prawn

Greenland •

West Greenland Prawn

photo: Gunnar Þorsteinsson

In assessment •

Lumpfish

•

Greenlandic cod, haddock, and saithe in Barentsea fishery

Iceland moves toward fully processed consumer products

H

istorically, Iceland’s fisheries industry is a raw material exporting industry, only processing the wild catch to a limited extent before export. Despite being almost exclusively a raw materiel exporter Iceland managed to transform itself from being one of the least developed countries in Europe in 1940 to become relatively prosperous state by the end of the 20th century.

The fisheries sector played an important part in Iceland’s economic development.

And there are two main reasons for it: First, fish itself has increased in real value since the end of the Second World War, along with just a few other commodities such as crude oil, while most others such as wheat, have decreased in real value during this period. Second, but equally important, is the fact that the domestic fisheries sector has strived to do better, developing new technology and knowledge on handling, chilling and processing.

Building on this tradition of better processing methods, Iceland’s fisheries sector is now experiencing an innovative shift to-

wards fully processed consumer products, thus moving higher up the value-chain and occupying a larger part of the sales margin. At Ocean Cluster House in Reykjavík, 15 SMEs develop and sell fully processed consumer products. Instafish is opening a gateway into the Chinese online retail market for seafood, other companies develop new products from dried fish, sell cold-pressed cod liver oil, canned cod liver, and even fashion ware, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals medical devices made from fish skin and the viscera, the intestinal enzymes.

“With these SMEs now growing larger and their export quantities multiplying, a new chapter is being written in the history of the Icelandic fisheries and seafood industry. The Iceland Ocean Cluster was established to support and nurture new innovative companies, willing to take risks and develop new products in the ocean industries. This vision is now materialising in the sphere of the Iceland Ocean Cluster and the action is taking place in the Ocean Cluster House” says Bjarki Vigfússon Economist at the Iceland Ocean Cluster. n

The Iceland Ocean Cluster was established to support and nurture new innovative companies.

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Twice the value for half the catch:

Achieving 95% raw material utilization The effects of increased cod quotas in Norway and Russia on global market prices have triggered concerns for whitefish fisheries and producers Ocean Cluster worldwide, Icelandic producers included. The combined effects of Russian import bans on the EU and Norway as we stricter regulations onerous Nigerian import taxes have made market conditions for cod products very challenging

$680

By Joseph Mattos-Hall Researcher, Iceland

Âť Cosmetics from cod The top seafood businesses have achieved almost 95% utilization of each cod caught. Considering that the average utilization across a

460

thousand tons

$340 million

180

Total cod catch

2011

1981

2011

thousand tons

1981

Âť Continuously searching for new ways to add value For Iceland, evenly distributed cod fishing, production and good product differentiation are keys in minimizing the negative effects of such uncertain market conditions. That is, while many almost exclusively produce H&G cod and frozen fillets and others consolidate production of fresh products over the summer time, Icelandic fisheries, for a number of reasons, have been relentless in expanding the number of product classes and ensuring consistent production: while cod landings decreased 60% between 1981 and 2013, the total export value of cod products more than doubled.

This vast increase in export value per landed ton can be attributed to increased raw material utilization, product research and development, innovation and a fisheries management system that incentivizes fisheries to seek new ways to add value. The numbers bear that out: 1981 marked a national record as Icelandic fisheries brought to shore 460,000 metric tons of cod, yielding $340 million in export income (in 2015 dollars).Thirty years later, only 180 thousand tons were landed in 2011, these catches generated $680 million in revenue. This translates to an increase in the export income per landed ton by a factor of 4.

With continued product development, the value will continue to rise.

million

Export value (present value)

spread of North Atlantic nations is just over 50%, this is no small feat.

In addition to traditional frozen fillets and whole fish, Icelandic producers are adding value by increasing production of high-value seafood such as fresh fillets exported by air, extractive liver oil and roe for caviar. Furthermore, a range of cosmetics and medical devices are manufactured from cod viscera, a product of the cooperation between the seafood and biotech industries.

This is not only relevant to the local seafood industry. In 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9 billion. At the same time, per capita protein consumption is expected to rise considerably. The challenge for agriculture and fisheries industries to keep up with demand is profound. Fish populations and landings will likely remain virtually unchanged; instead the emphasis lies in raw material utilization.

When it comes to cod, Iceland has many lessons for other nations. n

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FISHING THE NEWS

21

Showcasing in Brussels

Valka will showcase the X-Ray Guided Cutting Machine in Brussels in April 21-23.

X-Ray Cutting Machine

Pre-trimming line With speed controlled filleting machines the system ensures that each trimmer has only few fillets at a time and the first fillet in goes first out.

The machine uses combination of an X-ray and 3D image processing system together with robot controlled water jets to locate and cut pin bone and portions with great accuracy.

This gives processors an opportunity to substantially improve throughput and yield using fewer workers when trimming and portioning fish fillets.

“

Minimum handling and short processing time returns excellent material quality

„We use the Valka Cutting machine to cut out pin bones and portions from skin-on and skinless Haddock and Cod fillets. We are very pleased with the performance and the flexibility that the machine gives us.

Gunnar Holm - Sales manager Andreassen Sales AS Co owner of Gryllefjord Seafood AS

Pre-trim

X-Ray Scan

Measuring

Remove blood stains & spots, parasites & filleting defects

X-ray camera scans the fillet and locates the bones

Vision system measures the fillet density for cutting based on weight

MEET US IN BRUSSELS

X-Ray

at Seafood Processing Global

The X-ray system uses low energy X-ray technology which gives the highest contrast possible and more reliable detection of small bones than with conventional technology.

April 21-23 Hall 4 Booth #6115-1

Scan to see the machine in action

Key Features Capacity & yield

>

The machine belt speed can be up to 460 mm/sec. The throughput of the machine is calculated as a function of the weight of the whole fish. For a 3 kg gutted Cod the machine capacity is about 2.000 kg per hour.

X-Ray camera detects bones down to 0.2mm in size

>

The pin bone cut-off in Cod is around 5-6% of the fillet size. The cutting proximity to the bones can be adjusted to cut closer and hence increase the yield and furthermore the expected yield will increase when cutting at an angle is available.

Automatically cuts out pin bone and to the desired portions

>

Greatly improves product handling as all cuts are made in a single machine

>

Ensures bone-free products

Portion Calculation

Water Cut

Analysis software calculates the optimal portioning

Water jets cut out the pin bone and portions

T: (+354) 519 2300

sales@valka.is

www.valka.is

“WiseFish in the cloud”

W

ise’s unique solution, WiseFish, suits every type of company in the fishing industry. Built on Microsoft Dynamics NAV it suits every aspect of the production chain. The solutions are now available in the cloud, making them accessible everywhere, on any device. »» A key opportunity Wise has participated in Brussels Expo for the last fifteen years and Jón Heidar Pálsson, Wise’s sales and marketing manager, says it›s always a great pleasure to attend. “The event is always both informative and entertaining. As the expo is the biggest in Europe people come here from all over the world, which offers us a unique opportunity to meet many people at one location. At the expo that we meet both existing customers and potential ones so this is extremely important for our business relations.” Wise has had the same stall location from the start, making it easy to find for Wise’s customers. “The result is that the stall is usually packed with people,” Jón says. “We use the opportunity to exchange ideas with our customers and introduce to the new ones what we are offering, and how it can benefit them. And, of course, the expo grants us the chance to see what others are doing in the field as well.” »» Accessible from anywhere The main focus for Wise in Brussels this year is their cloud based solution. “Wise is now able to offer WiseFish and Microsoft Dynamics NAV in the cloud so you can access and process data anytime, anywhere, from any device using a secure web-based environment,” says Jón. WiseFish, built-on Microsoft’s Dynamics NAV, is the most sophisticated solution available for the seafood industry and suits every aspect of the production chain; from catching to production to exports, thus streamlining system management and minimizing the need for hardware. “This system is ideal for every type of seafood as well as other business sectors,’ Jón says. »» Faster, simpler and more user-friendly Leasing the software and running it in a cloud environment minimizes start-up and running costs, making this available to companies of any size. This applies to diverse companies as everyone has to meet the same requirements for certification, export documentation, traceability etc. WiseFish offers a subscription-based

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option that includes Dynamics NAV, providing a flexible solution with known costs and the possibility of varying the number of users as required each month, allowing the licence to be reduced or increased according to changing demand. The latest version of WiseFish is also even more user-friendly then before. A selection of on-line tutorials is available and should the user encounter any difficulties Wise’s expert team is at the customer’s beck and call.

“The interface for WiseFish is the same as for NAV of course, so when you have you mastered NAV you can apply that knowledge to navigate WiseFish as well,” Jón says. »» Flexibility is the key WiseFish has been a solution since 1995 and Wise now has a staff of over 80, based in Iceland, Norway and Canada. The solution has been developed to meet the requirements a changing business environment and since it was introduced it has been met with resounding success. Today over 80% of all fish quotas in Iceland pass through a WiseFish system in one way or another, while on the international market Wise is active all over the world. “The reason why the product is so widely used is that nobody else is offering a fully comparable solution for the fishing industry,” Jón Heidar says. “You can find products that have some of WiseFish’s aspects but no-one else offers such a comprehensive solution. All our inventions and changes are based on the needs of the companies in this industry. When someone comes to us and suggests something added or changed, we always give the suggestion full consideration. After all, it’s the customer who’s going to use the product, he knows what works for him and what doesn’t.” »» Decades of experience Wise has at its disposal the skills of a team that has decades of experience with Microsoft solutions behind it. In addition, the company has a long record of experience in providing tailor-made solutions for a great many Icelandic companies, as well as for its customers around the world. “Wise is without a doubt one of Iceland’s leaders in information technology, with its systems in use by many of Iceland’s largest seafood companies,” Jón says. Hardly surprising when you consider the wide variety of software packages offered, all based on its philosophy of making it possible for its customers to make their own informed decisions. Since Wise was founded in 1995 it has become one of Iceland’s prime Microsoft Dynamics NAV resellers, specializing in servicing the financial, retail, local government, seafood and transport sectors. n

Application cancelled

Recently the Icelandic Government formally withdrew its application to the EU. Fishing the News asked Haukur Már Gestsson, economist at Icelandic Ocean Cluster and Jón Steindór Valdimarsson, Director/Senior Expert at Evris who work in the fishing industry, about their opinion on this matter.

Do you agree or disagree with the decision to formally pull back from the negotiations with the European union?

Jón Steindór: I disagree. It is for the parliament and the Icelandic people to decide, not individual ministers or the government alone. The government is backtracking on a promise to listen to the will of the nation regarding this issue. Let’s not forget that 53.555 or over 20% of the Icelandic electorate has signed a petition to the parlement to hold a referendum on whether or not to continue the EU membership negotiations.

Furthermore, opinion polls show overwhelming support - in some cases over 80% - in favour of continuing the negotiation process. People want to see the negotiations be finished so that they can make up their minds about EU membership, based on a negotiated accession treaty, not on the basis of speculations.

In my mind we are still an applicant country.

Jón Steindór Valdimarsson.

Haukur Már: I understand people’s disappointment about the government not calling a referendum on EU as was promised before elections. In that sense I disagree. However, I believe that the benefits most people see in joining the EU - free trade, a better currency, lower interest rates - are all goals that can be achieved without being part of the EU, which undoubtedly has some disadvantages.

Haukur Már Gestsson,

Do you think it is likely that Iceland would have been able to negotiate with the European union to maintain control over Iceland’s natural resources- including the fisheries zone?

Jón Steindór: Yes, I believe that we can negotiate an agreement that would ensure our interests in that respect. There are no indications that suggest that Iceland would not be able to control fisheries around Iceland. In the minds of many Icelanders this is one of the core prerequisites for joining the EU. But we should also keep in mind that fisheries are not the only issue at stake for Icelanders, not the only factor for why many want to join the EU. After all we are part of the European family and should be seated at the family table.

Haukur Már: I don’t think anyone can say. It certainly hasn’t been done before. The EU has repeatedly stated that

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“negotiations” is a misleading term as the joining phase is only a matter of when and how to adopt and implement all 90.000 pages of EU regulations.

Do you think that maybe within few years we should consider the European Union again?

Jón Steindór: We are considering membership today and we will keep on considering it until the day we get to have a say, based on a negotiated membership agreement, on whether or not to join the European Union.

Haukur Már: I don’t believe that what I see as drawbacks to the EU - centralization, government spending, massive subsidies, trade restrictions – will change anytime soon. First and foremost Iceland should seek to release capital controls and open up for trade and investments.

How about the Canadian dollar, is that a currency that the Icelandic nation could use instead of the euro? Or do you still have faith in the Icelandic currency?

Jón Steindór: The idea to take up the Canadian dollar, or to link the Icelandic Króna to the Canadian dollar is not a good option for several reasons. Our economic relations with Canada are minimal, it is not a particularly large currency area and the connections between the Canadian and the Icelandic business cycles are limited. All things considered, I believe there are only two options, either to keep the Króna with all the shortcomings that it entails, such as capital controls and instability, or to join the EU and take up the euro as our currency. To me, the euro seems to be the option that best fits the need of our economy.

Haukur Már: People confuse joining the EU and changing currencies. These are two separate goals and can be dealt with as such. Iceland should absolutely join a larger currency area. There is no perfect solution, but a currency larger than the Disney Dollar will definitely be a step up. I don’t think it matters if it is the Euro, Canadian Dollar, US Dollar or Norwegian Krona, businesses will use whatever currency they mainly trade in. n

CERTIFICATION OF ICELANDIC FISHERIES The FAO-Based Iceland Responsible Fisheries Management Certification Programme is a third party certification model used to verify responsible fisheries management in Icelandic waters and good treatment of marine resources.

WELL MANAGED FISHERIES

COD Certified in 2010

Iceland has taken a leading role in fisheries management, focusing on the sustainable use of fish stocks and good treatment of the marine ecosystem. The Icelandic fisheries system has been developed in accordance with international law and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION The purpose for obtaining certification of Icelandic fisheries from an independent third party certification body is to demonstrate with complete transparency that fishing and fisheries management in Iceland is carried out in a responsible and recognized manner.

HADDOCK Certified in 2013

The UN FAO has developed and adopted Guidelines for market based certification and ecolabelling that are based on explicitly stated principles.

These principles include avoidance of obstacles to trade and state that ecolabelling schemes should be considered equivalent if consistent with the FAO Guidelines.

CERTIFIED FISHERIES – HARVEST CONTROL RULES

SAITHE

Icelandic authorities have adopted harvesting policy and formal harvest control rules for cod, haddock, saithe and golden redfish fisheries.

Subsequent independent third party certification according to the highest international requirements confirms that these fisheries are well managed.

Certified in 2013

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has confirmed that the adopted harvest control rules for those fisheries are consistent with the Precautionary Approach to fisheries management.

Ireland's Global Trust Certification of, which is part of SAI Global, conducted the assessment and issued the certificates for those fisheries.

GOLDEN REDFISH Certified in 2014

ICELAND RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

BORGARTÚN 35

Finnur Garðarsson

Guðný Káradóttir,

105 REYKJAVÍK

Project manager Iceland Responsible Fisheries Foundation Tel. +354 591 0308 finnur@fiskifelag.is

Marketing manager Promote Iceland Tel. +354 511 4000 gudny@islandsstofa.is

ICELAND WWW.RESPONSIBLEFISHERIES.IS

Bringing you news, knowledge and innovation from Iceland