Tag: Value creation

Reports

Opportunities related to biomass processing and biotechnology in the West Nordic region

Published:

06/02/2018

Authors:

Bryndís Björnsdóttir, Margrét Geirsdóttir, Elisabet Eik Guðmundsdóttir, Guðjón Þorkelsson, Rósa Jónsdóttir, Gunnar Þórðarson, René Groben, Stephen Knobloch, Aviaja Lyberth Hauptmann, Janus Vang, Ingunn Gunnarsdóttir, Ragnar Jóhannsson, Lisbeth Due Schönemann-Paul, Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir

Supported by:

Nordic Council of Ministers and AG-fisk

Opportunities related to biomass processing and biotechnology in the West Nordic region / Biorefining and Biotechnology Opportunities in the West Nordic Region

The West Nordic region has great opportunities for improved utilization, sustainability and increased value of organic resources. This report identifies the main organic resources in the area that are suitable for biorefining and the use of biotechnological tools. The report describes the valuable ingredients of the area's main biological resources, as well as the processing methods that are or can be applied to them and lists various end products that can be produced by further processing. The report provides an overview of the activities currently underway and the products produced in the area through finishing and biotechnology. Organic resources are divided according to whether they are by-products, originating in water or on land, or underutilized resources. Attention is paid to special opportunities and obstacles related to the West Nordic region.

The West Nordic region holds promising opportunities to improve utilization, sustainability and value from its biological resources. The region's major bioresources available for biorefining and biotechnological applications are the focus of this report. It identifies valuable ingredients in the different resources, processing technologies which are or may be applied, and possible end products obtained from further processing the raw material. An overview of the current operations and products which are being produced within the region is given. The report divides the available bioresources into biodegradable residues of aquatic or land origin and underutilized biomass. High-north specific opportunities and obstacles are highlighted.

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Reports

Investment management in freezer trawler operations

Published:

01/05/2014

Authors:

Gunnar Þórðarson, Arnljótur B. Bergsson, Gísli Eyland, Jónas R. Viðarsson, Sigurjón Arason, Sindri Magnason

Supported by:

AVS Fisheries Research Fund. Reference No .: S 12 007‐12

Contact

Gunnar Þórðarson

Regional Manager

gunnar.thordarson@matis.is

Investment management in freezer trawler operations

There has been a major change in the freezer trawler industry in Iceland since it began in the early 1980s. The share of freezer trawlers in cod has decreased significantly and today it is only caught as a by-catch when fishing for other species such as redfish, saithe and halibut. In 1992, there were most freezer trawlers in the Icelandic fleet, 35 in number, but today there are only 23 and the number is decreasing. The reasons for the declining share of freezer vessels in the cod fishery can be traced to higher oil prices, but the energy cost of freezing at sea is much higher than comparable costs on land, higher labor costs for processing at sea than on land and changes in marketing where fresh fish has recently returned one of the greatest value creation in the Icelandic fishing industry. The most important operating aspects of freezer trawlers today are catch quotas, catch value, fishermen's wages, oil prices and fishing fees. The imposition of fishing fees has created uncertainty and reduced the efficiency of freezer trawlers, which has prevented investment in the industry, as well as a share-based system that does not encourage investment in technology or product development. Freezer trawlers are necessary for Icelanders, and although their share of cod and haddock has decreased, it will still be economical to fish other species with processing vessels. Species such as redfish and halibut are well suited for processing such as this, and distant targets will hardly be retrieved except with freezer trawlers.

Significant changes have occurred in operation of freezing trawlers in Iceland since it began in the early eighties. Its share in the most important stock, the cod, has declined significantly and today cod is only caught as by ‐ catch with other species. The main species caught by and processed on ‐ board freezing trawlers today are; redfish, saithe and Greenland halibut. In 1992 the number of freezing trawlers peaked in the Icelandic fishing fleet, with 35 vessel, but has declined to 23 today. Reasons for the reduction are mainly higher oil prices, higher energy cost of freezing at sea than onshore, relatively higher salaries of processing offshore and changes on markets where fresh fish portions have recently delivered better value than see ‐ frozen fillets in the Icelandic fishing industry. The most important operating parameters for freezing trawlers are quotas, catch value, crew remuneration, fuel cost and fishing fee. Imposition of fishing fees in Iceland have caused uncertainty and reduced profitability of freezing trawlers and prevented capitalization in the industry, along with crew salary ‐ systems that do not encourage investment in technology or product development. Freezing trawlers are necessary in Icelandic fish industry, though their share of the cod and haddock have declined it remains profitable to catch other types of species, such as redfish and Greenland halibut and these vessels are vital for the Icelandic deep sea fishing around Iceland and in the Barents see.

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