13/06/2008
Exceptional : embark aboard a fishing boat in Iceland
Philip Plisson photo report in Iceland - Second part : Embark aboard a fishing boat in Iceland!Fishing (cod, herring, salmon and capelin) is the main resources of Iceland (50 % of Iceland's exportation in 2006). Capelin is a 20cm-long fish, living in high seas, that spawns on the icelandic coasts. Commercially, capelin is used for fish meal, salmon feed and oil industry products, and as a food. Capelin roe is considered a high value product, especially in Asian countries, because of its claimed aphrodisiac qualities.
Iceland mainly exports capelin to Japan and Russia - up to 200 millions euros in 2002. Capelin ressources are watched over by the ministry of Fisheries and by the Iceland Marine Research Institute. Early this year, cod and capelin fishing has known a dramatic reduction of quota. Until a 470,000-ton school of capelin was located in Icelandic waters, east of the Westman islands. The minister of Fisheries has than increased the capelin quota for Iceland to roughly 800,000 tons, to the huge relief to the industry. In february 2008, Philip Plisson has embarked aboard the Jupiter, a 57m-long fishing boat, for 48 hours of fishing southeast of Iceland.
Despite difficult weather conditions - there was a storm, with 8 to 12m-high waves and a 140km/h wind - the boat has loaded 1,500 tons in 8 hours, reaching its maximum capacity.
Jupiter's ship-owner, Ísfélag Vestmannaeyja, owns mainy fishing boats as well as plants. He manages all the capelin circuit, from fishing to roe export.
Link to the ship-owner website... | 
Embark aboard Jupiter with
Philip Plisson : see the video
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