Stockfish to Africa

Stockfish to Africa

From the settlement until the last century, stockfish / dried fish products were the main export product of Icelanders. Most stockfish is exported to Nigeria today, but that country is the 12th largest trading country for Icelandic seafood. Last year, Nigerians bought stockfish for about ISK 10 billion. Today, stockfish is dried in the old fashioned way outside in sheds and indoors, where it dries faster. The stockfish sent to Nigeria is almost exclusively haddock and cod, and the heads are considered the best. Egyptians, on the other hand, buy dried mackerel. The Nigerians are predicted to succeed in the African Cup of Nations, currently taking place in Cameroon. They beat Egypt 1-0 in their first game. The question is whether the victory is not due to the Icelandic stockfish.

The stockfish in the picture is very valuable.
The stockfish is mostly cod and haddock, which is then sent to West Africa, but the biggest importer is Nigeria. 
The heads are the bet and they are used in protein rich fish soups. 
It takes three to four months to dry the fish outside. It is determined by humidity, temperature and wind during the drying period. 

Reykjanes 12/01/2022  10:47 – 12:07 A7R III & A7C: FE 2.8/100mm GM – FE 2.5/40mm G

Photos and text : Páll Stefánsson

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