Hrísey Seafood faces uncertain future after closure by Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority

Hrísey Seafood is currently without a clear future as its operations remain uncertain following a closure ordered by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (Matvælastofnun) at the beginning of July. This closure was due to unsatisfactory food production conditions. Shortly after the shutdown, the company received permission to reopen as they worked on necessary improvements.

In July, the signage on the seafood processing facility in Hrísey was removed, and there has been no communication regarding the company’s future. Although employees returned from their summer breaks and operations resumed shortly after the improvements, the facility was once again shut down for the summer holiday period. This time, the company’s branding was removed from the building, along with all information from its website.

According to reports, most of the employees at Hrísey Seafood are foreign workers. Anna Júlíusdóttir, the head of a local trade union, indicated that language barriers have hindered the establishment of a designated workplace representative to address ongoing issues.

Despite multiple inquiries from news outlets, management at Hrísey Seafood has not responded regarding the status of the company or its future plans. As it stands, the fate of this seafood processing business remains unclear, creating uncertainty among its employees and the local community.