Kramer Fish buys shares in fishing vessel
URK / SCHEVENINGEN – Ten years ago Klaas van den Berg sold his share in the P224 “Miranda” to partner Jaczon. The British vessel – named after Van den Berg’s youngest daughter – was bought back last week, together with fish processer Iede Kramer from Kramer Fish. The vessel is bought by the new established company ‘Zeevisserijbedrijf UK 111’.
,, We have too much unused quota. Mainly plaice, but also dab and sole “, Van den Berg explains the purchase. Klaas van den Berg has the twin rigger / flyshooter GY 127 “Hendrika Jacoba” on board, on which Albert Zwaan has recently started sailing. The GY 127 has been delivering the plaice directly to Kramer Fish for a few months now, the catch is mechanically sorted at the factory on the Zuidoostrak.
Van den Berg: ,, We talk a lot about chain reinforcement, but often the suppliers and traders are opposed to each other. To experience benefits you have to take the step to work together. Looking at the current developments, we think that is the future. We are not the first. In the UK we have been reading about shipowners working together with processer from the chain for years.”
Iede Kramer: ,, Supply and trade can’t work without each other, but it’s difficult to get on one line. Compare it with magnets: on the one hand they pull towards each other, but when you turn it around, they repel each other. Fishermen have had a difficult time for a number of years. Now the processors are struggling for a while. Too little plaice is supplied throughout the year. I think we should move towards a system to get the peaks and troughs out for both parties. That means a fixed price for a longer term. A happy medium, so to speak. I take shares in a fishing vessel to be assured of plaice supply all year round. That is my interest as a trader and processor. At the same time, as a stakeholder, I get a sence how our vessel company works.”
The P224 will continue to sail as agreed with the current (Urker) crew with skipper Simon Wietse Ras under the same conditions as at Jaczon. In the meantime, Jaczon has the ex-LE 62 converted in Stellendam for pulse and twin rig fishing.
At the end of this year, Van den Berg and Kramer will jointly decide whether the P224 remains under the British flag or is flagged to the Netherlands and Urk receives registration letters. Pulse fishing is being discontinued. Twin triggering will be the main focus.
Written by visserijnieuws.nl
