Icelandic trawler firm 's aquaculture facility yields quality cod

HB Grandi, one of Iceland's largest trawler firms. has boosted its supply of New Year cod from a new source - its aquaculture facility at Berufjörður on the island.

Around 50 tonnes of high quality cod were taken from the fish farm to the company's at Akranes and shipped to overseas markets by air where they are already appearing in chiller cabinets in supermarkets. The development reflects Iceland's decision to step up production of farmed cod in particular because wild supplies are both limited and strictly controlled by quotas.Kristján Ingimarsson, head of HB Grandi's aquaculture division said: "It's all going according to plan. The fish are in good condition although the average weight is slightly lower than we had expected from our samples at around 2kg."

He explained that 20 tonnes were slaughtered after Christmas and a further 30 tonnes will be taken in the New Year.

The fish are bled immediately when they leave the cages. From there they are taken to a fish processor for gutting and cleaning, after which they are transported to HB Grandi factory in Akranes, where it is processed and sold as fresh portions and fillets to overseas markets.

The cod came to the company in 2005 as 100 gramme fingerlings that were put into sea cages. Mr Ingimarsson said the fish had grown well over the past 12 months and HB Grandi, which owns a fleet of 12 freezer and conventional trawlers, had two generations of cod being bred at its aquaculture facility.