Norwegian Pelagic Fishing Report – Week 15 of 2026:
Blue whiting fleet resumes fishing after Easter break with mixed catches. Photo: Karstensens Shipyard
Fleet Returns to Blue Whiting Grounds After Easter
The Norwegian blue whiting fleet has resumed operations following the Easter break, with vessels returning to the Faroese zone amid mixed early results and persistent weather disruption.
Speaking from on board the vessel Rogne, currently fishing in the Faroese zone, the crew described a cautious but active start to the renewed campaign. The vessel only recently entered service, arriving in Herøy on 13 March after being constructed at Karstensens Skibsværft in Skagen, Denmark.
At 83 metres in length and 16.5 metres in breadth, Rogne is a combined purse seiner and trawler. This marks its first blue whiting trip, deploying new gear and trawl doors. The crew indicated that while the operation is still bedding in, early signs are positive, with both vessel performance and equipment meeting expectations so far.
Experienced Operators but Patchy Early Fishing Results
The Rogne brothers, who operate the vessel, bring decades of experience to the fishery, having targeted blue whiting since 1984 and operating vessels under the Rogne name since 1996. Despite that track record, they made clear the fishery has not yet delivered consistent results.
Catch rates across the fleet have been moderate, with vessels reporting approximately 300 tonnes per haul from towing periods lasting between 10 and 12 hours. However, there are indications of improvement as fishing has progressed.
Crew on Rogne reported that catches have strengthened over recent days, with Sunday producing significantly better results, reaching up to 600 tonnes per haul. This suggests that fish concentrations may be stabilising, although consistency remains uncertain.
First Post-Easter Landings Signal Activity Increase
The vessel Eros was the first Norwegian boat to return to the fishing grounds after Easter, reporting a catch of 1,900 tonnes on Sunday evening. That early landing points to a gradual ramp-up in fleet activity rather than an immediate surge in catches.
Currently, 12 Norwegian vessels are operating in the fishery, working alongside boats from Iceland, Russia, and the Faroe Islands. This concentration of effort in the Faroese zone reflects the continued importance of the area for blue whiting during this phase of the season.
Weather Continues to Disrupt Fishing Operations
Adverse weather conditions remain a significant constraint. The past week has been described as challenging, with rough conditions limiting fishing efficiency and operational consistency.
Forecasts indicate that poor weather is likely to persist in the coming days, raising further doubts about how quickly catch rates can stabilise across the fleet. For an already inconsistent fishery, this adds another layer of uncertainty.
Quota Position Shows Significant Volume Still Available
Despite the resumption of fishing activity, a substantial portion of Norway’s blue whiting quota remains unharvested. Of the total allocation of 230,712 tonnes for 2026, 52,035 tonnes are still to be caught.
This remaining volume suggests that while activity is increasing, the fishery is not yet operating at full capacity. Whether improved catches in recent days translate into sustained progress remains to be seen.
Limited Horse Mackerel Activity Following Easter
Separate from the blue whiting fishery, activity in the horse mackerel sector has been minimal. The vessel Kavholm reported the last catch before Easter and was also the first to report after the break.
Its post-Easter landing consisted of 15 tonnes of horse mackerel, averaging 500 grams, caught in Tysvær, Rogaland. Across the week, a total of 24 tonnes has been reported from three vessels, indicating low overall activity in this segment.
