Update from Factory Manager Erik MacKenzie, November 2015
Tristan fishing has had a slow start, mainly due to weather conditions not allowing many opportunities for fishing days. We are nearly five months into the season which started on 1st July and have only managed 16 fishing days so far.
Of the 42 tonnes landed to date we have packed around 58% into various whole forms - Raw, Cooked, Sashimi and the remaining balance of 42% into tails.
Both October and November have seen extreme conditions and the amount of rain we have had during this time is the worst seen in living memory by many of the older islanders. We are also seeing New Zealand flax buds emerging over a month late and garden plants flowering later than usual. This in turn could be having an impact on fishing/lobster cycles as well.
Everyone is hoping that we will experience an increase in landings either between now and break-up day or early in the New Year when we return to work after the holidays. The Edinburgh is likely to operate around Tristan for a few days in December prior to leaving for Cape Town as that provides an opportunity to land additional lobster for delivery to Cape Town before the end of the year.
Harbour works are likely to further disrupt fishing operations early next year, but hopefully not to a large extent.