Revamped shop brings fish processing to Estonian island

With independence from the Soviet Union came the opportunity for the island of Hiiumaa to make the most of its fishing tradition, with new fleets, ports, gillnet making and the Kärdla fish market. However, the sale of fresh fish gradually declined as processed fish became more popular with customers. The fish market facilities lacked visibility and were too small to accommodate processing so all processed fish was imported from the mainland or abroad.

Imre Kivi is a local fisherman and the Director of a company called Stonefish. He had owned a small fish shop in the Kärdla fish market for 17 years and it seemed like a logical idea to Imre to create a new facility for processing – including smoking – fish and selling fish fillets.

He turned to the Hiiukala FLAG for information on loan options and EMFF funding. With a grant from the FLAG, Imre opened new premises located on the island’s main entry road, easily accessed by tourists. The project was implemented in four stages, including a café corner selling fish soup and smoked salmon in part of the new building. Five members of staff work there year-round and extra staff are hired during the holiday season. In addition, study tours for Scandinavian fishermen in the new facilities introduce them to the local practices in fish processing, while a gillnet making workshop is allowing local fishermen and their relatives to diversify their activities.