Students from the master´s programme in Coastal and Marine Management recently visited three local companies in the fishing industry in connection to their latest course, Economics of Coastal and Marine Environments. Their teacher, Dr Gabriela Sabau from Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Canada, accompanied them.

In the little village of Suðureyri, the students visited two fish companies, Íslandssaga / Icelandic Saga Ltd and Klofningur. These two companies, together, provide the majority of the population in this village with work, many of them of foreign origin. Klofningur specializes in drying fish heads. Before entering the factory the students dressed in plastic gowns, hair nets and shoe shields, which they found very amusing. The students were then led through the whole process, accompanied by Guðni Einarsson, CEO, who explained how the fish is dried with hot air, how its is packed and readied for shipment. This proved to be a very smelly process - hence the plastic gowns.

The students then strolled thorugh the village to the Icelandic Saga freezing plant, where the company CEO, Óðinn Gestsson, offered a tour through the factory, showing and explaining everything from the reception where the fish is brought into the plant, to the deep freezing department.

The visit to Suðureyri ended at the Talisman Restaurant, where the group was invited to have coffee and cakes, while Óðinn Gestsson gave a slide presentation of the two companies. He also discussed the role of Íslandssaga and Klofningur in the village as well as the ongoing tourism project , ‘The Original Fishing Village‘, which Íslandssaga is involved in.

Later the class visited HG freezing plant in Hnífsdalur, which today is the largest fisheries company in the region. Kristján Jóakimsson, Production and Sales Manager, received the group together with Sverrir Petursson, Fleet Manager and presented the company with slides and a video. The group was also treated to a marvellous fish soup, which was delicious.

 

These company visits were very well appreciated by the students and gave them valuable insights into fish processing as well as the management and the economic environment that Icelandic fisheries companies operate within.

 

The University Centre is very thankful to all three companies for generously receiving the students.