Vessels making switch to longline fish for price premiums

The best quality fish fetch the best prices, therefore some vessel owners are making the switch to longlining for species that are traditionally caught by other fishing methods.

Norwegian longline equipment manufacturer Mustad is supplying a SelectFish system to a French operator wanting to take advantage of the market. Mustad’s Gro Tollefsrud Fjeld told IntraFish the SelectFish system -- in development for some years -- is ideal for the French and Spanish fleets, as well as for Norwegian coastal vessels.

"Today we have six vessels fishing with the Autoline SelectFish system along the Norwegian coast and the latest is Sulatind, with its equipment fitted in October last year," Gro Tollefsrud Fjeld said.

"Skipper