Culture and Living | Iceland Monitor | Mon 13 Jun 2022 | 19.45 GMT

Fishermen celebrated today with the same enthusiasm as 84 years ago

Children getting education about fish in a playful real life setting. mbl.is/Kristvin

"It is obvious that the same feeling of support that fishermen and the fishing industry had in the year 1938 when the Fisherman's Day was celebrated for the first time still prevailsl," says Aríel Pétursson, chairman of the Fisherman's Day Council, which was held yesterday after a two year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Aríel Pétursson the chaiman of the Fisherman's Day Council. Eggert Jóhannesson

"Everything today exceeded our expectations," he added yesterday and said that all the events were packed.

There was a lot going on in Grandi and Aríel mentions a lot of excitement in going on a short sailing tour on the ICGV Þór patrol ship. But there were a lot of other options, like kajak sailing, pillowfights and a showcase of strange looking fish.

Among the artist that performed yesterday were Bríet , Valdimar Guðmunds , Emilía Hugrún , Jón Arnór and Baldur .

A lot of people came to Grandi to celebrate Fisherman's Day yesterday. mbl.is/Kristvin

Pétursson was hurrying yesterday to participate in a climbing competition. "I have been looking forward to this and hope to be able to get to the top of the tower, because if I don't I will fall into the sea."

Fishermen honoured for outstanding work

Earlier in the day Finnbogi Aðalsteinsson, Guðjón Hafsteinn Guðmundsson, Helgi Vignir Kristinsson, Ingvar Friðriksson, Kristinn Daníel Hafliðason, Sigurður Ólafsson, Ægir Kristmann Franzson and Valdimar H. Sigþórsson were honoured in Harpa Concert Hall for their outstanding work and rescue achievements.

"The predominant feeling in Harpa was the gratitude and the sunny disposition. The fishermenn who received honours have most been around or more than half a century working as fishermen, which in itself is quite a feat," Pétursson says.

A day filled with activities

Elísabet Sveinsdóttir who is the marketing and promotion manager of the Fisherman's Day agrees with Pétursson and says that people were clearly looking forward to celebrating this day again.

"It was amazing to see all these people and how willing people were to participate in the activities we had planned and the sunny weather was a plus."

The formal schedule was finished at 4 PM but there were signs that people were going to have a good time into the evening.

Here below are more pictures from yesterday.

Svandís Svavarsdóttir Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries gave a speech at Harpa where the fishermen were honoured for outstanding work. mbl.is/Kristvin