The Marine Research Institute of Iceland estimates that more than 52,000 tons of herring died in the two separate incidents to have occurred in Kolgrafafjörður, West Iceland, over the past two months.

From Kolgrafafjörður. Photo: Páll Stefánsson/Iceland Review.

Around 30,000 tons of herring died in December and at least 22,000 earlier this month.

The fishing quota for herring in Iceland for the current fishing season, which runs from September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013, is 62,234 tons, only 10,000 tons more than the amount of herring which died in the fjord.

According to a statement issued by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority yesterday, the feeding of animals with the dead herring is not legal.

Regulations state that animal fodder should consist of materials which are in a good condition; according to the statement, rotten herring can be harmful.

As reported earlier this week, school children in the nearby village of Grundafjörður have been cleaning the shores, collecting dead herring, which was to be used as fodder for the mink and fox industry.

The Marine Research Institute said that rotten herring in such large quantities can be a catastrophe for the birdlife in the Breiðafjörður bay area.

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PS