And this time, we were there. Not just for a visit, but to witness the entire process up close, from the catch at sea to the moment the herring goes into the barrel. We flew after the Wiron 1, which had left Scheveningen a week earlier heading to Kalvåg, especially for Fish Tales. We boarded with Berry, our newly appointed herring ambassador, and his fantastic crew.

Why herring?

At Fish Tales, we only choose fish that is caught sustainably and, of course, tastes fantastic. The Hollandse Nieuwe herring fits perfectly with that. It is a traditional, iconic fish caught in a way that respects the fish population and spares nature. But we wanted more than just a sustainable choice – we wanted the very best herring. And for that, we came to Berry.

Fisher Berry: a man of sea, tradition, and craftsmanship

It was fantastic to go out with Berry. Together with his son Dave and the rest of the crew, he catches herring of exceptional quality every year. Berry is a true seaman. He is wholeheartedly dedicated to the craft, and you can feel and see that in everything. His family has been in fishing for generations, and Berry himself spent years manually cutting herring, a craft that is now largely automated. But the knowledge, finesse, and respect for the product have remained, and that is exactly what makes his herring so special.

Fishing is... a lottery!

On board the Wiron, we got a unique insight into the life of the herring fisherman. The fishermen live together day and night on board. They depend on each other for a good catch, but also for each other’s safety and companionship.

Once on board, it quickly became clear this trip would go differently than planned. A strong storm at sea made skippers Adri and Wilco doubtful: “We don’t think this is going to work.” Because the golden rule in fishing: the safety of your ship but especially the crew always comes first. We kept setting course towards the fishing grounds, hoping the storm would hold off. After nearly six hours of sailing, the decision was made: it is not safe to continue, and with this forecast, we wouldn’t catch anything anyway.

A big disappointment for us, but certainly also for the crew. They had sailed this way especially for us, and now they had to return without Hollandse Nieuwe in the hold. We weren’t happy either: no herring from Berry!

Berry himself was quite matter-of-fact about it: “Fishing is a lottery. You can’t do anything about it. It’s simply a natural product.” And besides: “I am and will remain a herring fisherman.”

Fortunately, Berry and his crew clearly showed how herring fishing normally works. From searching for the school, to setting the net and quality testing.

From herring to Hollandse Nieuwe

Onshore in Kalvåg, we were able to see all the steps of the traditional Dutch way of processing herring into Hollandse Nieuwe at the factory. Every part of the process is important to achieve that perfect final result, and in Kalvåg it is perfected down to the smallest detail.

Right at the quay, the fish from returning boats is processed fresh and immediately. Fortunately, other fishing boats in the area had left earlier and were able to fish. Larger vessels and a different chosen fishing ground can make the difference between a catch or none.

What an experience!

Despite the lack of freshly caught herring, it was quite an experience! We got to see what life on board is like, with or without a catch, in good or bad weather. What stays with me most is the flexibility a fisherman must have. Because once you leave the harbor, you never know when you’ll come home again. As Berry said so well: “No day at sea is the same, in all the years I’ve done this. It’s always different.” And of course, the wise words: “Fishing is a lottery” won’t leave me.

Fortunately, during the season there are still plenty of boats active catching the very best and tastiest herring. These are processed in Kalvåg into the familiar Hollandse Nieuwe, also for our products. And Berry? Berry remains our loyal and proud ambassador as a herring fisherman. We won’t let him go. Enjoy!