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Fish Species

As in other areas of the North Atlantic, cod has always been commercially the most important species in Icelandic waters, although its relative importance has been declining during the latter part of the 20th century. Other large codfishes such as saithe and haddock have also been fished extensively for the whole 20th century by the demersal fleet. In the latter half of the century the trawlers also moved to deeper water to target redfish species and Greenland halibut. Several other fish species such as flatfishes and catfishes are also important contributors to the demersal fisheries.

Pelagic fisheries concentrated exclusively on herring, until its stock collapse in the late 1960s, which led to capelin and recently blue whiting and mackerel becoming major species targeted by this fleet. The pelagic fisheries are characterized by great fluctuations in catches from one year to another as the size or migration patterns of these stocks can fluctuate considerably between years.

Invertebrate fisheries began around the middle of the 20th century, initially based on northern shrimp and nephrops lobster; the former sustained for a time one of the most valuable fisheries in Icelandic waters.

Whaling was quite important for the economy in the first decade of the 20th century, but became less significant after the First World War. After the Second World War, whaling of the large whales was only conducted from one shore station in western Iceland, while minke whaling is still conducted by smaller vessels all around Iceland.

Many other minor fisheries exist or have existed in Iceland, e.g. the lumpsucker fishery where specialised gillnets are used. Only a few species of cartilaginous fishes occur in Icelandic waters and these constitute only a minor part of current catches. However, Greenland shark fisheries with handline were among the most important fisheries in Icelandic waters in the 19th century.

Freshwater recreational fisheries are popular in Iceland. These target brown trout, Arctic char and Atlantic salmon. Small scale trout fisheries are also conducted with gillnets in shallow waters, but it is illegal to catch salmon in the sea. All the Icelandic freshwater species are diadromous by origin.

Atlantic Ocean 

Source: The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture – Photo Credit: Hans-Petter field”

Icelandic Wild Live

Whales around Iceland

Articles in Fish Species

Twaite Shad

The twaite shad (Alosa fallax) is mainly found in the Baltic Sea, up along the... more

The Northern Bluefin Tuna

The northern bluefin tuna (giant gluefin tuna - Lat Thunnus thynnus) inhabits... more

Toad Crab or Small Spider Crab

The toad crab's (Lat Hyas araneus) habitat is in shallow waters all around... more

Thornback Ray

The thornback ray's (Lat Raja clavata) snout is very short and almost at an... more

Spotted Catfish

The spotted catfish's (Lat Anarrhichas minor) habitat is above the ocean floor... more

Common Skate

The common skate (Lat Raja batis linnaeus) has a pointed snout Its length is... more

Edible Sea Urchin

The life cycle of a sea urchin (Lat Echinus esculentus) starts by spawning... more

Sea or Arctic Char

The sea or arctic char (Lat Salvelinus alpinus) is mainly to be found in the... more

Catfish – Seawolf

The catfish (seawolf, Atlantic catfish, Atlantic wolffish, wolf eel - Lat... more

The Icelandic Salmon

Salmon (Lat Salmo salar) fishing was practised in Iceland from its earliest... more

Saithe – Pollock

The saithe's (Lat Pollachius virens) habitat is in the North Atlantic Ocean,... more

European Plaice

The plaice's (Lat Pleuronectes platessa linnaeus) habitats are in the Northeast... more

Orange Roughy

The orange roughy's (Lat Hoplostethus islandicus) habitat is mainly off the... more

Opah – King Fish – Sun Fish

The opah's (Lat Lampris guttatus or luna) mouth is toothless and can be... more

Ocean Perch – Redfish – Norway Haddock

The ocean perch (Lat Sebastes marinus) lives near the sea floor close to land... more

Norway Pout

The Norway pout's (Lat Boreogadus esmarki) habitats are in the Northeast... more

Norway Lobster

The Norway lobster (Dublin Bay prawn, langoustine, scampi - Lat Nephrops... more

Northern Horse Mussel

The northern horse mussel (Lat Modiola modiola) is one of the most common... more

Northern Shrimp

The northern shrimp (Lat Pandalus borealis) is one of the animals called... more

Megrim – Whiff – Sail Fluke

The megrim's habitats are off the coasts of Europe, from the Trondheim's Bay in... more

Lumpsucker or Lumpfish

The lumpfish (Lat Cyclopterus lumpus) has no scales and the ventral fins form a... more

Ling

The ling's (Lat Molva Molva) habitat is in the northeast Atlantic, from... more

Iceland Scallop – Northern Clam

Scallops aggregate in patch-like groups, and commercially fishable... more

Iceland Cyprine

This mussel (Lat Arctica islandica or Cyprina islandica) is the most common of... more

Herring

The herring's (Lat Clupea harengus linnaeus) habitat is in the North Atlantic,... more

Atlantic Halibut

The halibut's (Lat Hippoglossus hippoglossus) habitat on the ocean floor in the... more

Haddock

Haddock (offshore hake - Lat Melanogrammus aeglefinus) has its habitats in the... more

Greenland Halibut

The Greenland halibut's (Lat Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) habitat is in the... more

Gray Sole

The Flounder's (Lat Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) habitats are in the North... more

European Eel or Elver

The American eel (Lat Anguilla rostrata) and the European eel (Lat Anguilla... more

Picked dogfish or spurdog

In front of both dorsal fins are hollow, poisoned spikes The dogfish's (Lat:... more

Cod

The cod's (Lat: Gadus morhua) habitats are in the North Atlantic, from... more

Capelin

The capelin's (Lat: Mallotus villosus) habitat is in the cold seas of the North... more

Blue Whiting

The blue whiting's (Lat: Micromesistius poutassou) habitat is in the... more

Blue Mussel

The blue mussel (Lat: Mytilus edulis) is common all around Iceland It is a... more

Blue Ling

The blue ling (Lat: Molva byrkelange) is mostly 80-130 centimetres long It is... more

Basking Shark

The basking shark (Lat: Cetorhinus maximus) is the second largest fish species... more

Angler Fish

The habitats of the angler fish (Lat: Lophius piscatorius) are in the North... more

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