Fisheries overview
Key Signals
Fisheries management measures for major stocks (e.g. cod, haddock, saithe, and herring) have resulted in decreased fishing pressure – close to or at FMSY or HRMSY – and increased SSBs for the past two decades.
There has been an overall reduction in fishing effort since 1991 for all fisheries – except those using handlines where it has increased. The decrease in trawl effort is likely to have reduced pressure on benthic habitats.
Three pelagic fisheries have seen increased effort and landings due to changes in migration patterns which have been linked to prey availability, oceanographic conditions, and stock abundance: a blue whiting fishery, which started in the late 1990s, the fishery of Atlantic mackerel which commenced in mid-2000, and the Norwegian spring-spawning herring fishery which recommenced at the turn of the century.
Fishing grounds of several other species (e.g. haddock, anglerfish, ling, lemon sole and witch) have extended to the northern part of the ecoregion due to species redistribution as a result of increased water temperature.
Several species, including Atlantic halibut, spotted wolfish, Norway lobster, and northern shrimp, have shown substantial decreases in stock sizes associated with reasons such as high fishing pressure and reduced stock productivity. The directed fisheries for Atlantic halibut and Norway lobster are currently prohibited.
Legislation to recommence hunting of fin and minke whales was passed in 2009. However, catches are not made every year.
The highest cumulative multiannual bycatch rate of protected, endangered, and threatened species was recorded in set gillnets. At species level, the highest seabird bycatch rates were observed for guillemot and common eider, and the highest marine mammal bycatch rates for harbour porpoise and harbour seal. The estimated annual bycatch of seabirds in the gillnet lumpfish fishery has decreased in recent years but the driver is not clear.
The summer feeding grounds of capelin have moved out from the Icelandic Waters ecoregion to the Greenland Sea ecoregion. While this does not directly affect the Icelandic capelin fishery which occurs in the winter it may indirectly impact the distribution and growth of predator stocks on which other fisheries depend.
Introduction
The Icelandic Waters ecoregion covers the shelf and the waters surrounding Iceland and is equivalent to the Icelandic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; Figure 1). The region is located at the junction of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Greenland-Scotland Ridge, just south of the Arctic Circle. The ocean and coastal shelves are heavily influenced by oceanic inputs where water masses of different origins mix. Further details can be found in the ecosystem overview for Icelandic waters.
The fisheries within the ecoregion catch more than 40 stocks of fish and marine invertebrates. The main demersal species include cod (cod.27.5a), haddock (had.27.5a), saithe (pok.27.5a), golden redfish (reg.27.561214), Greenland halibut (ghl.27.561214), Atlantic wolffish (caa.27.5a), plaice (ple.27.5a), tusk (usk.27.5a14), and ling (lin.27.5a). The main pelagic species are capelin (cap.27.2a514) and summer-spawning herring (her.27.5a), as well as widely distributed species such as Norwegian spring-spawning (NSS) herring (her.27.1-24a514a), blue whiting (whb.27.1-91214), and mackerel (mac.27.nea). Norway lobster, northern shrimp, and sea cucumber are the main invertebrate stocks that are exploited in Icelandic waters.
The fisheries for most stocks in this ecoregion are managed by the Icelandic Government, while fisheries of some shared stocks are subject to international negotiation through the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) or by coastal state agreements (between Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway).
All of the Icelandic Waters ecoregion lies within FAO Major Fishing Area 27; the prefix “27” in the ICES statistical area codes is therefore omitted in the following text. This overview covers ICES Division 5.a and parts of divisions 2.a, 5.b, 12.a, 14.a, and 14.b, and provides:
- a short description of each of the national commercial fishing fleets in the ecoregion, including their fishing gears, and spatial and temporal patterns of activity;
- a summary of the status of the fisheries resources and the level of exploitation relative to agreed objectives and reference points;
- a description of mixed fisheries interactions in the ecosystem, and
- an evaluation of the effects of fishing gear on the ecosystem in terms of the seabed and on the bycatch of protected, endangered, and threatened species.
The scientific names of all species are included in Table 3 in the Annex.
Description of the fisheries
Fisheries within the Icelandic Waters ecoregion use a variety of fishing gears to catch a wide range of species, including those considered to be demersal, benthic, pelagic, widely distributed, and deep water. The bulk of the fisheries, both pelagic and demersal, occur at depths less than 500 m. There has been an overall reduction in fishing effort since 1991 (Figure 2) for all fisheries except those using handlines, where it has increased. The spatial distribution of the average fishing effort 2020–2023 by gear type is depicted in Figure 3.
Bottom-trawl
Bottom trawls account for the majority of the fishing effort in the Icelandic Waters ecoregion (Figure 2)). The species composition of the catch depends on the area and depth fished as well as the gear design, including the cod-end mesh size. Bottom trawl effort is highest on the continental shelf edge, particularly west and northwest of Iceland (Figure 3), targeting cod, saithe, and golden redfish (Figure 5) and using a mesh size 135 mm in the cod-end. Otter trawling is banned within 12 nautical miles, although there are some exceptions, like the inshore northern shrimp fishery. Since 1991, the bottom trawl effort has decreased substantially (Figure 4). There is also a substantial bottom trawl fishery for haddock on the continental shelf around Iceland; however, it is in shallower waters than the fishery targeting cod (Figure 5). In deeper waters (500–1000 m) on the shelf edge, the main target species are Greenland halibut (in the north and east), demersal beaked redfish (mainly southwest and west; reb.27.5a14), and greater silver smelt (south and southwest; aru.27.5a14) (Figure 5).
Trawlers using smaller mesh bottom trawls (70–100 mm) primarily target Norway lobster in areas south and southwest of Iceland (Figure 3). Effort of this fleet has decreased substantially since 1991 and there has been no fishing since 2022 (Figure 4).
The shrimp fishery, which uses specialized shrimp trawl with mesh size ~40 mm in the cod-end, is mainly conducted north of Iceland (Figure 3). Shrimp trawl effort declined rapidly from 1998 to 2005 and has since remained low (Figure 4). The reason for this is the collapse of five out of eight inshore shrimp stocks as well as the substantial decrease in effort towards deep water northern shrimp, which is the largest stock.
Demersal seine
Demersal seine fisheries operate mainly on soft bottoms close to land to west and south of Iceland (Figure 3); they target various flatfish species such as plaice and lemon sole but also cod, haddock, and Atlantic wolffish (Figure 5). Demersal seine effort has decreased by more than half during the period 1991–2023 (Figure 4).
Static gear (gillnet, longline, and handline)
Gillnet fisheries operate mainly in shallow waters (Figure 3) and are directed at cod during its migration to the main spawning grounds south and west of Iceland in the first and second quarter. There is also a gillnet fishery that targets lumpfish conducted in very shallow areas in fjords north and west of Iceland. Gillnet fisheries conducted in deeper areas target Greenland halibut and anglerfish (Figure 3). The total gillnet effort has declined more than fivefold by 2023 compared to its peak in 2004, primarily due to a significant reduction in gillnet fisheries targeting cod and saithe (Figure 4). In the most recent years, gillnet effort targeting Greenland halibut has increased considerably on the continental slope in the northern and eastern part of the ecoregion.
Longline and handline effort increased from 2000 to 2010 and, although it has decreased since then, remains high (Figure 4). These fisheries mainly operate in shallow waters, targeting cod and haddock (Figure 5). Longline fisheries in deeper waters target cod, tusk, ling, and blue ling (bli.27.5a14).
Pelagic trawl and seine
The Icelandic fleet targeting the pelagic fish stocks in the ecoregion (two stocks of herring as well as capelin, mackerel, and blue whiting) consists of large vessels that can operate with both pelagic trawls and purse-seines. Since 2005, the majority of the pelagic fish stocks have been taken with large pelagic trawls, whereas the purse-seine fishery has declined to very low levels (Figure 4). Since 2011, the effort with pelagic trawls has decreased by more than 80%, mainly because of decreased catches of capelin but also because of the decreased mackerel and blue whiting fishery in the Icelandic Waters ecoregion in recent years (Figure 4). In 2007–2023, between 7 and 24% of the total Norwegian spring spawning herring catch, between 4 and 18% of the total mackerel catch, and between < 1 and 7% of the total blue whiting catch was taken in the ecoregion.
Catches of the pelagic fishery vary both spatially and temporally (Figure 6). Capelin is mainly caught from January to March during its spawning migration along the southern and western coasts of Iceland. In some years, capelin has also been caught northeast of Iceland (Figure 6). The fishery for the Icelandic summer-spawning herring takes place on overwintering areas, mainly west and south of Iceland in autumn and winter (quarters three and four). The Norwegian spring-spawning herring stock fishery occurs at the feeding grounds east of Iceland from August to November. Mackerel is caught during its summer feeding migration (post-spawning) in the western, eastern, and southern parts of the ecoregion. The majority of the blue whiting catches taken in the ecoregion are taken southeast of Iceland, but the fishing season varies between years.
Part of the pelagic fishery for deep pelagic beaked redfish (reb.2127.dp) extended into the Icelandic EEZ, where only Icelandic vessels can operate, until 2019 (Figure 3). The proportion of deep pelagic beaked redfish that is caught within the Icelandic EEZ varies from year to year but, in 2009–2018, was on average 11% of the total catch. Iceland has not fished from this stock since 2019.
Dredges
Dredge fisheries operate in shallow waters, both inshore and offshore, along the western and eastern coasts of Iceland. The most significant dredge fishery is the one that started in 2008 on sea cucumber. Other species caught in dredge fisheries are sea urchin, Iceland scallop, and ocean quahog; effort towards these species, however, has been low in recent years.
Whaling
Icelandic minke whaling targets the whales at their feeding grounds, located to the west of Iceland. Since 2009, fin whaling has predominantly taken place off the continental shelf west of Iceland but, in 2014 and 2015, moved further south and east. For both fin and minke whaling, 90 mm and 50 mm harpoon cannons are used, respectively.
Recreational
In Icelandic waters, marine recreational fisheries can be divided into the marine angling tourism sector and local marine recreational fisheries (subsistence fishery). These fisheries are exempt from ITQ fisheries management. Fishing licenses are required in the angling tourist sector. The target species is mainly cod, but haddock is also caught, especially in the local marine recreational fishery. Catch statistics are, however, unavailable.
Catches over time
Landings
Fisheries within the Icelandic Waters ecoregion catch a wide range of species, including those considered to be demersal, benthic, pelagic, widely distributed, and deep water. The principal species targeted in the commercial fisheries are cod, haddock, saithe, golden redfish, demersal beaked redfish, Greenland halibut, capelin, herring (Icelandic summer-spawning herring and Norwegian spring-spawning herring), mackerel, and blue whiting. The fisheries for cod, haddock, saithe, and redfish species use mainly demersal trawls, longlines, and gillnets; herring, capelin, mackerel, and blue whiting are mainly caught by pelagic trawls and purse-seines. Other target species that have local economic importance include plaice, lemon sole, ling, tusk, Atlantic wolfish, lumpfish, northern shrimp, Norway lobster, and a newly developed fishery for one species of sea cucumber.
An increasing proportion of the landings of haddock, anglerfish, ling, tusk, witch, and lemon sole is now occurring along the northern shelf of Iceland and is considered to be a result of increased temperature and ecosystem changes (see Icelandic Waters ecosystem overview).
Total landings from Icelandic waters doubled from 750 000 tonnes in the early 1950s to about 1.5 million tonnes in the late 1960s (Figure 7). This was due to increased herring catches; with the collapse of the Norwegian spring-spawning and the two local Icelandic herring stocks in the late 1960s, total landings fell to a similar level to the early 1950s and consisted of mainly demersal species. Total landings increased again from the early 1970s to the mid-2000s, when they peaked at about 1.8 million tonnes. This increase was driven by the exploitation of pelagic species previously not fished in the Icelandic Waters ecoregion: a capelin fishery starting in the early 1970s, a blue whiting fishery starting in the late 1990s, and mackerel fishing beginning in the mid-2000s (Figure 8). Total demersal landings decreased in the same period, until the mid-1990s, mainly because of decreased landings of cod (Figure 8). From the mid-2000s to 2020, total landings decreased to around 750 000 tonnes, mainly because of the decreased capelin fishery. The total landings have increased since 2020 because of the increased capelin fishery and were in 2023 about 1.250 million tonnes.
Pelagic fisheries, using pelagic trawl and purse-seines, generally account for the largest proportion of the total landings; these are followed by the demersal trawl and seine fisheries, then by the longline and gillnet fisheries (Figure 9).
Demersal species
Cod is the demersal species with the highest landings (Figure 10). Landings of cod peaked in 1954 with 546 000 tonnes. Annual landings decreased with fluctuation to their lowest in 2008, when 146 000 tonnes were landed, but were on average about 248 000 tonnes in 2020–2023. The highest annual landings of haddock in recent decades were about 100 000 tonnes in 2005–2006, but the level has since decreased to 40–70 000 tonnes (Figure 10). Annual catches of saithe and golden redfish have been relatively stable for the past two decades, but annual landings of Icelandic slope beaked redfish have decreased substantially (Figure 10). Annual landings of other demersal species, such as Atlantic wolffish, ling, blue ling, tusk, and lumpfish, have fluctuated during but have in general decreased in the past decade (Figure 11).
Pelagic species
In 1950–1967, only herring (Norwegian spring-spawning stock and Icelandic summer- and spring spawning stocks) was fished within the Icelandic Waters ecoregion (Figure 12). When the herring stocks collapsed in the late 1960s, fishing for capelin started. Capelin landings in 1977–2003 were between 800 000 and 1 100 000 tonnes but were on average about 360 000 tonnes in 2003–2018. No capelin fishery was conducted in 2019 or 2020, but landings in 2021–2023 were between 200 000 and 620 000 tonnes. Since the turn of the century, the relative importance of capelin has decreased, while the relative importance of blue whiting, Norwegian spring-spawning herring, and mackerel has increased (Figure 12).
Flatfish species
Greenland halibut is the benthic species with the highest landings from the Icelandic Waters ecoregion (Figure 13). Annual landings of the species peaked in 1989, when about 59 000 tonnes were landed; in 2004–2023, landings were between 10 000 and 18 000 tonnes. The flatfish species with the next-highest landings is plaice, with annual landings of 5 000–8 000 tonnes (Figure 13). Landings of other flatfish species are small compared to Greenland halibut and plaice. In 1990–2005, a fishery occurred for dab and long rough dab, but very little is now landed of either of these species. Landings of Atlantic halibut have decreased from 6 600 tonnes in 1951 to less than 150 tonnes since 2012, when the directed fishery for the species was prohibited.
Invertebrates
Crustacean fisheries (Norway lobster and northern shrimp) have decreased substantially since the early 1990s, mainly owing to decreased landings of northern shrimp but also because of the drastic decline of the Norway lobster fishery in recent years (Figure 14). The directed fishery for Norway lobster was prohibited in 2021. Few mollusc shellfish fisheries have been conducted after the Iceland scallop stock collapsed in 2003, and there has been a decreased fishery for common whelk (Figure 15). In 2008, the fishery for sea cucumber started, with gradually increasing catches that peaked in 2018 and 2019 (Figure 15).
Elasmobranch
Fishing for elasmobranch fish species in Icelandic waters has generally been limited (Figure 16). Most of the catch has consisted of various skate species, but since 1990, fishing for starry ray has made up the majority of the elasmobranch fish catch. Little is landed from other species.
Marine mammals
Around 200 minke whales were landed annually between 1973 and 1986 until the moratorium on all commercial whaling was declared by the International Whaling Commission (IWC; Figure 17). Commercial whaling for minke whales was resumed in 2007, and annual landings have varied but show a decreasing trend. The landings on minke whales peaked in 2009, with 81 animals; in 2018, there were only six animals landed. There was no whaling for minke whales in 2019–2021. Annual landings of fin whales were 150–300 animals between 1948 and 1985 (Figure 17). After resuming commercial whaling for fin whales in 2009, the landings have been on average 140 animals per year when there has been whaling. There was no whaling for fin whales during 2011–2012, 2016–2017, and 2019–2021.
Traditional seal hunting in the last century was mainly on puppies of both harbour and greyseals, but adult seals were also harvested. In 1962–1987, annual catch was 3000–7000 seals, mostly harbour seal. From 1987, seal hunting gradually decreased, and seal hunting in the Icelandic water ecoregion has been prohibited by law since 2019. In 2002–2021, annual recorded catch (including bycatch) was between 1000 and 2000 animals (see Bycatch section for further details).
Discards
Discarding is banned for species within the individual transferable quota (ITQ) system that are subject to total allowable catches (TACs). Fishing vessels are therefore required by law to land all catches of those species. Species that have low or no commercial value and are not restricted by a TAC can be discarded. Estimates of discards based scientific sampling for cod and haddock are available for the period 2001–2018. Annual discards of cod are estimated to range from 0.05 to 2.62% of the total catch in tonnes during this period. The discard rate of haddock during the same period is estimated to range from 0.01 to 4.75%.
Who is fishing
The majority of fishing in the Icelandic Waters ecoregion is performed by vessels from Iceland. Vessels from Norway, Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also allowed to fish within the 200 nautical mile Icelandic EEZ through coastal state and bilateral agreements. Since its establishment in 1978, the EEZ has excluded foreign vessels not subject to those agreements (Figure 7). Around 1750 vessels operate in Icelandic waters. The following paragraphs highlight features of the fleets and fisheries of the different countries that operate within the Icelandic EEZ.
Iceland
Currently, the Icelandic fleet consists of around 1535 vessels of various sizes and types and has decreased by approximately 480 vessels since the turn of the century (Figure 18). The official statistics separate the fleet into three main categories: Bottom trawlers, decked vessels, and undecked vessels.
Bottom trawlers
About 40 bottom trawlers (30–90 m in overall length [LOA] and with a volume of between 200 and 2000 gross tonnes [GT]) operate in Icelandic waters. These vessels are almost exclusively engaged in demersal fisheries, mainly fishing for cod, haddock, saithe, redfish and Greenland halibut. The number of bottom trawlers has decreased by more than half since 1999 (Figure 19).
Decked vessels
Decked vessels include several different types and size ranges, from those with 10 GT to over 4500 GT (Figure 20). This is by far the most diverse category, as it ranges from small boats to large vessels and includes specialized demersal seiners, small bottom trawlers, dredgers, longliners, and purse seiners. About 20 pelagic vessels (60–90 m LOA) fish for capelin, herring, mackerel, and blue whiting using pelagic trawls and purse-seines. Roughly 40 demersal seiners (10–45 m LOA) operate in Icelandic waters, fishing for cod, haddock, Atlantic wolffish, plaice, and other flatfish species. The number of intermediate-sized vessels (mostly 10–50 m LOA) using static gear – i.e. longline and gillnet, or small otter trawls – fishing for Norway lobster, northern shrimp, cod, and haddock is around 650.
Undecked vessel
Approximately 820 undecked vessels, fishing mainly for cod and lumpfish, participated in the fishery 2018–2023; this number has decreased by more than 300 since 1999. Undecked vessels cover numerous vessels <10 m in LOA and up to 10 GT in volume, although most in this category are less than 6 GT (Figure 21). Many of these small vessels are technologically advanced and driven by powerful engines. These vessels mainly operate in inshore areas or close to shore
Whale vessels
Two large vessels (50 m LOA) participate in the fin whale hunt, whereas three-five small vessels (undecked, < 10 m LOA) participate in the minke whale hunt..
Faroe Islands
Through a coastal state agreement, the Faroe Islands have a quota of the Iceland–Greenland–Jan Mayen capelin stock, which they are allowed to fish within the Icelandic EEZ. From 2015 to 2018 and in 2021–2023, between four and six pelagic vessels using pelagic trawls were directed to capelin. No capelin fishery was conducted in Icelandic waters in 2019 or 2020. There is a bilateral agreement (revised annually) between Iceland and the Faroe Islands that allows Faroese longliners to fish for demersal species in the Icelandic EEZ and pelagic vessels to fish for NSS herring (since 2018). Since 2014, between 7 and 11 Faroese longliners have operated annually in Icelandic waters, fishing mainly cod, haddock, ling, and tusk. From 2019 to 2023, between 11 and 19 Faroese pelagic vessels using pelagic trawls fished for NSS herring in the Icelandic Waters ecoregion.
Greenland Through a coastal state agreement, Greenland has a quota of the Iceland–Greenland–Jan Mayen capelin stock, which it is allowed to fish within the Icelandic EEZ. From 2015 to 2018 and in 2021–2023, between one and three pelagic vessels, using pelagic trawls and purse-seines, operated in Icelandic waters. No capelin fishery was conducted in Icelandic waters in 2019 or 2020.
Norway
Through a coastal state agreement, Norway has a quota of the Iceland–Greenland–Jan Mayen capelin stock, which it is allowed to fish within the Icelandic EEZ. From 2015 to 2018 and in 2021–2023, between 46 and 67 pelagic vessels, using pelagic trawls and purse-seines, operated in Icelandic waters. No capelin fishery was conducted in Icelandic waters in 2019 or 2020. There is a bilateral agreement between Iceland and Norway for two Norwegian longliners to catch demersal fish, mainly ling and tusk.
Fisheries management
Fisheries management within the Icelandic EEZ is under Icelandic legislation. The Ministry of Industries and Innovation is responsible for the management of Icelandic fisheries and for the implementation of relevant legislation. The Ministry issues regulations for commercial fishing for each fishing year, including an allocation of TAC for each of the stocks subject to such limitations. The fisheries for some shared stocks are subject to international negotiation and managed based on agreements by NEAFC and by coastal states. Fisheries advice is provided by the Marine and Freshwater Institute of Iceland (MFRI) and by ICES.
A system of vessel quotas was introduced in 1984. An individual transferable quota (ITQ) system was established for the fisheries in 1990, and they were subject to vessel catch quotas. Since the 2006/2007 fishing season, all vessels have operated under the TAC system. Individual vessel owners have substantial flexibility in exchanging quota in this system, both between vessels within individual companies and between different companies. The latter can be done via either a temporary or permanent transfer of quota.
Some flexibility is also allowed by individual vessels with regard to transfer of quota among species, with the exception of cod, golden redfish and Greenland halibut. These measures, which are accounted for more or less instantaneously, are likely to result in a weaker incentive to discard and misreport than can be expected if individual vessels are restricted by strict quota measures alone. This does result in catches of some valuable species exceeding the single species TAC allocation (e.g. haddock and golden redfish).
With some exceptions, it is required by law to land all catches. Consequently, no minimum landing size is in force. To prevent fishing of small fish, various measures, such as mesh-size regulations and the closure of fishing areas, are in place. Support measures to the general system of management include real-time area closures. A short-term (usually two weeks) immediate closure system has been in force since 1976, with the objective of protecting juvenile fish. In 2018, 97 areas were closed, but since then the number of closed areas has decreased substantially due to changes in national regulations. Only nine areas were closed in 2023. Longer-term closures can be established if needed, thus directing the fleet to other areas. The Directorate of Fisheries and the Coast Guard supervise these closures. There are also seasonal area closures, where the major spawning grounds of cod, Atlantic wolffish, plaice, and blue ling are closed during the main spawning season.
There are also designated protected areas, and these areas are closed for fisheries that may affect relevant habitats and species. There are ten small areas southeast of Iceland that are closed for all fishing to protect cold water corals. A large area west of Iceland is closed for otter and pelagic trawling to protect juvenile golden redfish. In 2020, three areas southeast of Iceland were closed to demersal otter trawling to protect Norway lobster but monitoring fishery on the species was permitted until 2022. Since then, the Norway lobster fishery has been closed.
Management plans have been implemented for cod, haddock, saithe, ling, tusk, golden redfish, plaice, Atlantic wolffish, capelin, and Icelandic summer-spawning herring. These provide harvest control rules (HCRs) and safeguards to ensure that stocks remain within safe biological limits. Before adoption, these plans were evaluated by ICES to ensure they were precautionary and, in many cases, conform to ICES MSY approach.
Directed fisheries of Atlantic halibut, basking shark, spiny dogfish, and porbeagle are prohibited, and all live specimens must be returned to the sea.
Management of whaling is based on the advice from MFRI and is built on assessments on stock size undertaken by the scientific committees of the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
Status of the fishery resources
Eighteen stocks in the ecoregion are analytically assessed by ICES and were evaluated against harvest rate (HR), maximum sustainable yield (MSY), and precautionary approach (PA) reference points. The status of these stocks has also been assessed relative to safe biological limits, i.e., F < Fpa and SSB > Bpa. Advice for capelin fisheries is given on the basis of an escapement strategy (SSB > Bpa). For stock-specific information, see Table 2 in the Annex.
The most recent status of these stocks relative to safe biological limits is presented in Figure 22 and Figure 23. The mean spawning stock biomass (SSB) of all stocks is above Btrigger, except for Icelandic slope beaked redfish, deep pelagic beaked redfish, Greenland halibut and Norwegian spring-spawning herring. While biomass ratios are currently in a desirable condition for many of these stocks, eight stocks in the ecoregion have current fishing mortality rates above FMSY or HRMSY: haddock, ling, Icelandic slope beaked redfish, deep pelagic beaked redfish, Greenland halibut, Norwegian spring-spawning herring, mackerel, and blue whiting.
The stock statuses relative to FMSY or HRMSY and MSY Btrigger are shown for demersal stocks in Figure 24, for pelagic stocks in Figure 25 and for benthic stocks in Figure 26.
For the five gadoid stocks, all are above MSY Btrigger but haddock and ling are fished above HRMSY. Haddock, saithe and ling are two to three times MSY Btrigger, but cod and tusk are one to almost two times MSY Btrigger.
Atlantic wolfish, greater silver smelt, golden redfish and plaice are above MSY Btrigger and fished below FMSY (Figure 24 and Figure 26). Icelandic slope beaked redfish and Greenland halibut are below MSY Btrigger and fished above FMSY (Figure 24 and Figure 26). The deep pelagic beaked redfish has the worst status, as its SSB is below MSY Btrigger, and it is fished at a level more than 12 times higher than FMSY.
The SSB of three of the four pelagic stocks with analytical assessment (Icelandic spring spawning herring, mackerel, and blue whiting) is above MSY Btrigger, but the SSB of Norwegian spring-spawning herring is below MSY Btrigger. These stocks are fished above FMSY or HRMSY (Figure 25).
The mean fishing mortality for demersal and benthic fish stock groups has shown a declining trend since the mid 1990s (Figure 27, Figure 28, Figure 29, Figure 30, Figure 31, and Figure 32). Fishing pressures of other species show the same trend and are currently at low values, except for Greenland halibut (Figure 32), Icelandic slope beaked redfish (Figure 28), and deep pelagic beaked redfish (not shown). Trends in biomass of gadoids show biomass indices that are two to three times higher than their lowest observed value (Figure 27 and Figure 28). The biomass levels of three flatfish species – plaice (Figure 32), lemon sole, and witch (Figure 29) – are currently around two times higher than the lowest observed value. The biomass of Atlantic wolffish (Figure 28) is currently about two times higher than the lowest observed value, whereas the biomass index of spotted wolffish (Figure 29) has decreased and is at its lowest level in the time-series.
Temporal trends in F and HR, and spawning-stock biomass (SSB) relative to MSY reference points, are also shown. Also shown is Fproxy relative to target Fproxy and a biomass index for stocks where reference points have not been defined (Figure 29). For most demersal and benthic stocks, marked improvements in stock status have occurred since 2000; in many cases, fishing mortality ratios have declined below target reference points. Since 2000, the SSB and biomass ratios have shown an increasing trend, and the mean values are now in most cases above reference points. For three of the four pelagic stocks fished in the ecoregion, the last five–ten years have seen a decreasing trend in SSB ratios and, at the same time, an increase in mortality ratios. Note that although the mean fishing mortality and biomass ratios are generally in a desirable condition, this does not imply that all stocks are in such a condition.
A few species have been critically impacted by the fishery in the ecoregion. One of these species is Atlantic halibut. The biomass survey index for Atlantic halibut decreased between 1985 and 1995 and has since remained at a low level. Additional management measures – a mandatory release of viable halibut and a landing ban – were introduced in 2012. Spotted wolffish is another species where the biomass is currently at its lowest observed level. Both of these species are currently bycaught in fisheries directed at other species.
Stocks of invertebrates in the ecoregion show a declining trend in biomass and, in some cases, are currently at their lowest observed level. For some of the stocks, however, no reliable biomass estimates are available. Trends in biomass of northern shrimp stocks show a considerable decrease in indices of all nine stocks since the mid-1980s. Out of eight inshore shrimp stocks, five have collapsed to a very low level. The size of the three other inshore stocks is currently about 30% of the highest value but above biomass reference points; a limited fishery is therefore allowed. The offshore northern shrimp stock (the largest stock) has decreased by half since the mid-1980s but is currently 40% above biomass reference points. Norway lobster is considered to be at a critically low level. Its fishable biomass has decreased so substantially since 2009 that no commercial fishery is now allowed. There is limited information on stock status of common whelk, sea urchin, and ocean quahog, but fisheries for these stocks have declined considerably in recent years. The Iceland scallop stock, in the main fishing area west of Iceland, collapsed in the early 2000s, and no commercial fishery has been allowed since 2003. The collapse is linked to poor recruitment, combined with intensified fishing and high natural mortality due to protozoan infestation. A new fishery for sea cucumber developed to the west and east of Iceland, but little is known about stock status for this species.
Mixed fisheries
ICES has not been requested to provide scenarios for mixed fisheries for this ecoregion. This section gives a brief overview of the mixed fisheries and important bycatch.
Fishing gear operations that harvest multiple types of fish simultaneously are defined as mixed fisheries. However, some gears are more selective than others. For example, pelagic trawling and purse-seining typically catch only one species with lower quantities of bycatch; demersal trawling, bottom-seining, and longlining normally catch several species simultaneously. These operations are reported to MFRI via logbooks, in which catches of every species landed from each haul are recorded.
The average catches for 2021–2023 are aggregated to the following key description of fishing activity gear and target assemblage. (This is hereafter referred to as a ‘métier’; see Table 4 in the Annex for métier definitions.)
Fifteen demersal TAC species dominate the landings (mean annual landings > 1000 tonnes; Figure 33), using nine métiers (Figure 34). Cod, for example, is the main species landed by the demersal fisheries and is caught in most métiers to a varying extent, except in the gillnet fishery for Greenland halibut (Figure 34). As another example, northern shrimp is only caught in the otter trawl fishery directed at that species.
Figure 35 demonstrates the catch composition of the six most important demersal target species caught in the otter trawl fisheries. For example, haddock, saithe, and golden redfish are often taken as bycatch in the otter trawl fishery for cod. There are mixed saithe and golden redfish fisheries, where proportions of the two species depend on the spatio temporal operation of each of the fisheries. This leads to two different métiers, as shown in Figure 35(OTB DEF POK and OTB DEF REG).
Figure 36 illustrates species composition by individual hauls. Most of the cod is caught in hauls where it constitutes over 50% of the total catch. As another example, haddock is more frequently caught in fisheries directed at other species such as cod. Several species that are subjected to TAC are mainly taken as bycatch, meaning that most of their annual catch is taken in fishing operations where they form less than 50% of the haul catch. These species include spotted wolffish, Atlantic halibut, Norway redfish, whiting, blue ling, ling, tusk, witch, dab, anglerfish, and blue skate. Species where mean annual catch is less than 50 tonnes are taken exclusively as bycatch (not shown).
There is no bycatch reported in the fishery targeting capelin. Mixed fisheries in pelagic fisheries, targeting one of herring, mackerel, or blue whiting, are relatively low. In the mackerel fishery, herring (Icelandic summer-spawning and Norwegian spring-spawning combined) bycatch has varied between 5% and 14% during the last 10 years (2013–2023). Mackerel bycatch during this period in the Norwegian spring-spawning herring fishery varied between 1% and 12%. In the blue whiting and Icelandic summer-spawning herring fisheries, little bycatch (< 2%) was recorded.
Interactions between fisheries and the ecosystem
The fish species of commercial value in the Icelandic Waters ecoregion are clearly a significant part of the marine foodweb; they interact in various ways, including through predation and food competition. Generally, even if the pathways of the foodweb in the ecoregion are to some degree known, they are still poorly quantified. Consumption of fish by some predators has been estimated, but predation mortality has not been quantified; it is not, therefore, directly included other than within the general natural mortality estimates in the assessments of fish stocks in Icelandic waters.
Capelin is a key forage species in the ecoregion and is an important energy transfer within the ecosystem. Capelin feeds mainly on copepods and euphausiids, and it is one of the most important prey for several predators, e.g. cod, haddock, saithe, Greenland halibut, seabirds, and marine mammals. Other important prey species are shrimp and two sandeel species.
With more emphasis on sustainability, the precautionary approach, and rebuilding of fish stocks, fishing mortality has been reduced for many stocks in the ecoregion. This can alter the ratio between natural and fishing mortality. Natural mortality from predation can occur from other fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.
Effects of fisheries on the ecosystem
There are multiple effects on the fisheries ecosystems; two different effects are described in this section: (1) physical disturbance of benthic habitats by mobile bottom-contacting fishing gear; and (2) fisheries bycatch of protected, endangered, and threatened species.
Physical disturbance of benthic habitats by mobile bottom-contacting fishing gear
The main abrasive impact in the Icelandic Waters ecoregion is caused by mobile bottom-contacting fishing gears, mainly otter trawls targeting demersal fish, shrimp, and Norway lobster. Other mobile bottom-contacting fishing gears are demersal seines and dredges. Abrasion may affect the surface (top 2 cm of sediments; Figure 37) or the subsurface (> 2 cm; Figure 38) and affect fragile three-dimensional biogenic habitats in particular (e.g. sponge aggregations, coral gardens, and coral reefs). Most effects occur between 200 and 500 m depth ranges, while the effects on soft substrata in shallow waters have been shown to be minor. Other effects involve overturning boulders, scouring the seabed, and the direct removal of and/or damage to epifaunal organisms. The extent, magnitude, and effects of mobile bottom-contacting fishing gear on the seabed and benthic habitats vary geographically across the ecoregion (Figure 37 and Figure 38). Some areas are subjected to very high fishing pressure when compared with other ecoregions.
Bycatch of endangered, threatened and protected species
All fisheries have the potential to catch endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species as non-targeted bycatch. The list of ETP marine mammal, seabird, fish and marine turtle species of bycatch relevance for the Icelandic Waters ecoregion can be found in ICES, 2024a. ICES notes that some ETP fish species of bycatch relevance may be targeted by fishing operations in the ecoregion. ICES evaluated ETP species bycatch for the metiers and species combination for which the available data supported quantitative assessment. The list of the selected priority species is available in ICES 2024a Annex 4.
Estimates of the numbers of specimens taken as bycatch
Total bycatch numbers were estimated for six marine mammal species. The highest total bycatch by métier and all species combined was estimated for set gillnets (GNS) with 729 individuals, followed by bottom otter trawls (OTB) with three individuals. The total estimated bycatch of harbour porpoise was 559 individuals in GNS, that of 82 harbour seals was in GNS. A total bycatch number of 64 harp seals was estimated (61 individuals in GNS and 3 individuals in OTB) and a total bycatch number of 15 grey seals were estimated in GNS.
Total bycatch numbers were estimated for 15 seabirds. The highest total bycatch by métier and all species combined was estimated for set longlines (LLS; 1 449 individuals), followed by GNS (1 178 individuals) and midwater otter trawl (OTM; 133 individuals). The highest bycatch by species was estimated for common guillemot with 1 117 individuals (984 individuals in GNS and 133 individuals in OTM), followed by northern fulmar with 788 individuals (763 Individuals in LLS and 25 individuals in GNS and northern gannet with 545 individuals (534 in LLS and 11 in GNS).
Total bycatch numbers were estimated for 15 fish species. The highest bycatch for fish by métier and all species combined was estimated for OTB (2 776 individuals) followed by anchored seine (SDN; 169 individuals) and GNS (164 individuals). The highest total bycatch for fish species was estimated for mouse catshark with 1 577 individuals, followed by northern wolffish with 689 individuals and arctic skate with 261 individuals in OTB.
Species | Métier Level 4 | Monitoring days at sea (2017–2023) | Fishing days at sea (2022) | Monitoring ratio* | Number caught as bycatch (2017–2023) | Annual estimated bycatch (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harbour porpoise | GNS | 1 045 | 1 974 | 0.529 | 254 | 559 (311.9 – 1 033.5) |
* Number of monitoring days-at-sea (2017–2023) divided by number of fishing days-at-sea (2022). | ||||||
Multiannual bycatch rates
Multiannual bycatch rates for a total of seven marine mammal species were estimated for the ecoregion. The highest mammal bycatch rate by metier for all species combined was estimated for GNS (0.3813 numbers of bycaught specimens per monitored day-at-sea, BPUE). The highest individual bycatch rate was reported for harbour porpoi(0.2074 BPUE) followed by harbour seal (0.1082 BPUE) and harp seal (0.0363 BPUE) in GNS (Figure 26).
Multiannual bycatch rates for a total of 15 seabird species were estimated for the ecoregion. The highest seabird bycatch rate by metier for all species combined was estimated for GNS (1.1184 BPUE). The highest individual bycatch rate was reported for common guillemot in GNS (0.5576 BPUE) followed by common eider in GNS (0.3817 BPUE) and black guillemot in GNS (0.1242 BPUE) (Figure 27).
Multiannual bycatch rates for 17 fish species were estimated for the Icelandic Waters ecoregion. The highest fish bycatch rate by metier for all species combined was estimated for OTB (1.4659 BPUE). The highest individual bycatch rate was estimated for black dogfish in OTB (0.7866 BPUE) followed by great laternshark in OTB (0.3099 BPUE) and longnose velvet dogfish in OTB (0.15 BPUE).
Sources and references
Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Anker-Nilssen, T., Crawford, R., Bond, A., Sigurðsson, G. M., Glemarec, G., and Hansen, E. S. 2019. What’s the catch with lumpsuckers? A North Atlantic study of seabird bycatch in lumpsucker gillnet fisheries. Biological Conservation, 240: 108278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108278
Gardarsson, A., and Jónsson, J. E. 2019. Numbers and distribution of the Great Cormorant in Iceland: Limitation at the regional and metapopulation level. Ecology and Evolution, 9: 3984–4000. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5028
Gilles, A., Gunnlaugsson, Th., Mikkelsen, B., Pike, D. G., and Víkingsson, G. 2011. Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena summer abundance in Icelandic and Faroese waters, based on aerial surveys in 2007 and 2010. NAMMCO SC/18/AESP/11. 16 pp.
Granquist, S. M. 2021. The Icelandic harbour seal (Phoca vitulina): Population estimate in 2020, summary of trends and the current status. Haf- og vatnarannsóknir: 2021‐53. MFRI: Reykjavík, Iceland. 19 pp. https://www.hafogvatn.is/static/research/files/1637049019-hv2021-53.pdf
Granquist, S. M. 2024. Population estimate of grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) in Iceland 2022. Haf- og vatnarannsóknir: 2024‐43. MFRI: Reykjavík, Iceland. 12 pp. https://www.hafogvatn.is/static/research/files/stofnstaerdarmat-a-utsel.pdf
ICES. 2020. Bycatch of protected and potentially vulnerable marine vertebrates – review of national reports under Council Regulation (EC) No. 812/2004 and other information. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2020. ICES Advice 2020, byc.eu, https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.7474
ICES. 2024a. Icelandic Waters ecoregion – Ecosystem overview. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2024. ICES Advice 2024, Section 11.1 In prep. Publication expected by mid-December 2024.
ICES. 2024b. Working Group on Bycatch of Protected Species (WGBYC). ICES Scientific Reports. ICES Scientific Reports. 6:103. 1029 pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.27762723 In preparation
ICES 2024c. Roadmap for Bycatch of Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) Species. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.26003467
Iglésias, S. P., Toulhoat, L., and Sellos, D. Y. 2010. Taxonomic confusion and market mislabelling of threatened skates: important consequences for their conservation status. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 20: 319–333. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.1083
Jónasson, J. P., Thorarinsdottir, G., Eiriksson, H., Solmundsson, J., and Marteinsdottir, G. 2006. Collapse of the fishery for Iceland scallop (Chlamys islandica) in Breidafjordur, West Iceland. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 298–308. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsl028
Marine and Freshwater Research Institute. 2024. Meðafli fugla og sjávarspendýra í grásleppuveiðum 2020–2023 [Bycatch of seabirds and marine mammals in the lumpfish fishery 2020–2023]. MFRI: Reykjavik, Iceland. 15 pp. https://www.hafogvatn.is/static/extras/images/taekniskyrsla-medafli-fugla-og-spendyra-i-grasleppuveidum-20231429811.pdf
Pálsson, J., and Jakobsdóttir, K. 2018. The Flapper or The Blue? D. batis complex in Icelandic waters. Poster K389 presented at ICES Annual Science Conference, 24–27 September 2018; Hamburg, Germany.
Pálsson, Ó. K., Gunnlaugsson, Þ., and Ólafsdóttir, D. 2015. Meðafli sjófugla og sjávarspendýra í fiskveiðum á Íslandsmiðum [By-catch of seabirds and marine mammals in Icelandic fisheries]. Fjölrit, 178. MFRI: Reykjavík, Iceland. 21 pp. https://www.hafogvatn.is/static/research/files/fjolrit-178.pdf
Pike, D. G., Gunnlaugsson, T., Mikkelsen, B., Halldórsson, S. D., and Víkingsson, G. A. 2019. Estimates of the abundance of cetaceans in the central North Atlantic based on the NASS Icelandic and Faroese shipboard surveys conducted in 2015. NAMMCO Scientific Publications, 11. https://doi.org/10.7557/3.4941
Schopka, S. A. 2007. Friðun svæða og skyndilokanir á Íslandsmiðum - Sögulegt yfirlit [Areal closures in Icelandic waters and the real-time closure system - A historical review]. Marine Research in Iceland 133. 86 pp. https://www.hafogvatn.is/static/research/files/fjolrit-133.pdf
Sigurðsson, G. M., Pálsson, Ó. K., Björnsson, H., Hólmgeirsdóttir, Á. E., Guðmundsson, S., and Ólafsson, V. 2020. Mælingar á brottkasti þorsks og ýsu 2016–2018 [Discards of cod and haddock in demersal Icelandic fisheries 2016–2018]. Haf- og vatnarannsóknir: 2020-041. MFRI: Reykjavik, Iceland. 11 pp. https://www.hafogvatn.is/static/research/files/1608029972-hv2020-41.pdf
Annex
Stock | Stock description | Data category | Fisheries guild | Assessment year | Advice category | Reference points | Fishing pressure | Stock size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greater silver smelt in Subarea 14 and Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
|
| |
PA |
|
| ||||||
Blue ling in Subarea 14 and Division 5.a | 3.2 | Demersal | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
|
| |
PA |
|
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Atlantic wolffish in Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MP | MGT |
|
| |
PA |
|
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Capelin in subareas 5 and 14 and Division 2.a west of 5°W | 1.8 | Pelagic | 2024 | MP | MGT |
|
| |
PA |
|
| ||||||
Cod in Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MP | MGT |
|
| |
PA |
|
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Greenland halibut in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14 | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
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| |
PA |
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| ||||||
Haddock in Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MP | MGT |
|
| |
PA |
|
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Herring in Division 5.a, summer-spawning herring | 1.0 | Pelagic | 2024 | MP | MGT |
|
| |
PA |
|
| ||||||
Herring in subareas 1, 2, and 5, and in divisions 4.a and 14.a | 1.0 | Pelagic | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
|
| |
PA |
|
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Ling in Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MP | MGT |
|
| |
PA |
|
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Mackerel in subareas 1–8 and 14, and in Division 9.a | 1.0 | Pelagic | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
|
| |
PA |
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| ||||||
Plaice in Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MP | MGT |
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PA |
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Saithe in Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MP | MGT |
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PA |
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Beaked redfish in ICES subareas 5, 12, and 14 (deep pelagic stock) | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
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| |
PA |
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Beaked redfish in ICES subareas 5, 12, and 14 (shallow pelagic stock) | 3.3 | Demersal | 2024 | PA | MSY |
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PA |
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Beaked redfish in ICES Division 5a and Subarea 14 (Icelandic slope stock) | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
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PA |
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Golden redfish in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14 | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MSY | MSY |
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PA |
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Tusk in Subarea 14 and Division 5.a | 1.0 | Demersal | 2024 | MP | MGT |
|
| |
PA |
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Blue whiting in subareas 1–9, 12, and 14 | 1.0 | Pelagic | 2024 | MP | MSY |
|
| |
PA |
|
|
Common name | Scientific name | Species code | Assemblage | Assemblage code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Anglerfish | Lophius piscatorius | MON | Demersal fish | DEF |
Arctic skate | Amblyraja hyperborea | Elasmobranch | ||
Atlantic cod | Gadus morhua | COD | Demersal fish | DEF |
Atlantic halibut | Hippoglossus hippoglossus | HAL | Benthic | BEN |
Atlantic puffin | Fratercula arctica | Bird | ||
Atlantic wolffish | Anarhichas lupus | CAA | Demersal fish | DEF |
Basking shark | Cetorhinus maximus | BSK | Elasmobranch | |
Beaked redfish | Sebastes mentella | REB | Demersal fish | DEF |
Bearded seal | Erignathus barbatus | Seal | ||
Black dogfish | Centroscyllium fabricii | Elasmobranch | ||
Black guillemot | Cepphus grylle | Bird | ||
Blackbelly rosefish | Helicolenus dactylopterus | Demersal fish | DEF | |
Blue ling | Molva dypterygia | BLI | Demersal fish | DEF |
Blue whiting | Micromesistius poutassou | WHB | Small pelagic fish | SPF |
Brünnich's guillemot | Uria lomvia | Bird | ||
Capelin | Mallotus villosus | CAP | Small pelagic fish | SPF |
Common eider | Somateria mollissima | Bird | ||
Common guillemot | Uria aalge | Bird | ||
Common skate | Dipturus batis | RJB | Elasmobranch | |
Common whelk | Buccinum undatum | UHE | Molluscs and invertebrates | MOL |
Dab | Limanda limanda | DAB | Benthic | BEN |
Esmark’s eelpout | Lycodes esmarkii | Demarsal fish | DEF | |
European shag | Phalacrocorax aristotelis | Bird | ||
Fin whale | Balaenoptera physalus | Whale | ||
Golden redfish | Sebastes norvegicus | REG | Demersal fish | DEF |
Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | Bird | ||
Great lanternshark | Etmopterus princeps | Elasmobranch | ||
Greater silver smelt | Argentina silus | ARU | Demersal fish | DEF |
Greenland halibut | Reinhardtius hippoglossoides | GHL | Demersal fish | DEF |
Grey seal | Halichoerus grypus | Seal | ||
Haddock | Melanogrammus aeglefinus | HAD | Demersal fish | DEF |
Harbour porpoise | Phocoena phocoena | Whale | ||
Harbour seal | Phoca vitulina | Seal | ||
Harp seal | Pagophilus groenlandicus | Seal | ||
Herring | Clupea harengus | HER | Small pelagic fish | SPF |
Herring gull | Larus argentatus | Bird | ||
Humpback whale | Megaptera novaeangliae | Whale | ||
Iceland scallop | Chlamys islandica | ISC | Molluscs and invertebrates | MOL |
Leafscale gulper shark | Centrophorus squamosus | GUQ | Elasmobranch | |
Lemon sole | Microstomus kitt | LEM | Benthic | BEN |
Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | Bird | ||
Ling | Molva molva | LIN | Demersal fish | DEF |
Long rough dab | Hippoglossoides platessoides | PLA | Benthic | BEN |
Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | Bird | ||
Lumpfish | Cyclopterus lumpus | LUM | Demersal fish | DEF |
Mackerel | Scomber scombrus | MAC | Small pelagic fish | SPF |
Minke whale | Balaenoptera acutorostrata | Whale | ||
Mouse catshark | Galeus murinus | Elalsmobranch | ||
Northern fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | Bird | ||
Northern gannet | Morus bassanus | Bird | ||
Northern shrimp | Pandalus borealis | PRA | Crustaceans | CRU |
Northern wolffish | Anarhichas denticulatus | Demersal fish | DEF | |
Norway lobster | Nephrops norvegicus | NEP | Crustaceans | CRU |
Norway redfish | Sebastes viviparus | SFV | Demersal fish | DEF |
Ocean quahog | Arctica islandica | CLQ | Molluscs and invertebrates | MOL |
Plaice | Pleuronectes platessa | PLE | Benthic | BEN |
Porbeagle | Lamna nasus | POR | Elasmobranch | |
Razorbill | Alca torda | Bird | ||
Red-throated diver | Gavia stellata | Bird | ||
Ringed seal | Pusa hispida | Seal | ||
Saithe | Pollachius virens | POK | Demersal fish | DEF |
Lesser sandeel | Ammodytes marinus | Benthic | ||
Small sandeel | Ammodytes tobianus | Benthic | ||
Sea cucumber | Cucumaria frondosa | KHG | Molluscs and invertebrates | MOL |
Sea urchin | Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis | UYD | Molluscs and invertebrates | MOL |
Spiny dogfish | Squalus acanthias | DGS | Elasmobranch | DEF |
Spotted wolffish | Anarhichas minor | CAS | Demersal fish | DEF |
Starry ray | Amblyraja radiata | Elasmobranch | DEF | |
Tusk | Brosme brosme | USK | Demersal fish | DEF |
Witch flounder | Glyptocephalus cynoglossus | WIT | Benthic | BEN |
White-beaked dolphin | Lagenorhynchus albirostris | Whale | ||
Whiting | Merlangius merlangus | WHG | Demersal fish | DEF |
Gear type | Target assemblage | Métier label |
|---|---|---|
Dredges | Molluscs and invertebrates other than Norway shrimp and Norway lobster | DBR_MOL |
Gillnets | Demersal fish, other than Greenland halibut and lumpfish | GNS_DEF |
Gillnets | Greenland halibut | GNS_DEF_GHL |
Gillnets | Lumpfish | GNS_DEF_LUM |
Handlines (mechanized) | Demersal fish | LHM_DEF |
Longlines | Demersal fish | LLS_DEF |
Otter trawls | Crustaceans – Northern shrimp | OTB_CRU_PRA |
Otter trawls | Crustaceans – Norway lobster | OTB_CRU_NEP |
Otter trawls | Demersal fish | OTB_DEF |
Pelagic trawls | Small pelagic fish | OTM_SPF |
Purse-seines | Small pelagic fish | PS_SPF |
Demersal seines | Demersal fish | SDN_DEF |