Iceland Territorial Sea

To regulate fishing operations within the fishing zone of Iceland.

Species of Concern: multiple

Restrictions

1. Within the fishery limits all fishing activities by foreign vessels shall be prohibited in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 33 of 19 June 1922, concerning Fishing inside the Fishery Limits.
2. Icelandic vessels using bottom trawl, mid-water trawl, or Danish seine-netting are prohibited from fishing inside the following fishery limits an times: (1) Off the North East Coast between 1 April and 1 June and (2) All year within a line drawn 12 nautical miles from Kolbeinsey (67°08'8 N, 18°40'6 W).
3. Icelandic vessels are prohibited from all fishing (1) off the South Coast between 20 March and 1 May and (2) within the fishing areas of the West-Fjords.

Allowed

1. The Minister of Fisheries, having obtained the recommendations of the Marine Research Institute, issue the total allowable catch (TAC) to be caught for a designated period or fishing season from the individual exploitable marine stocks in Icelandic waters for which it is deemed necessary to limit the catch. The TAC for the coming fishing year shall be decided by 1 August each year, but the Minister may alter the amounts when necessary. Vessels with a fishing permit may freely fish marine animals not subject a TAC.
2. No one may pursue commercial fishing in Icelandic waters without having a general fishing permit. General fishing permits have two types: a general fishing permit with a catch quota and a general fishing permit with a hook-and-line catch quota. A vessel, registered in the Registry of Vessels of the Icelandic Maritime Administration, may only hold one type of fishing permit each fishing year.
3. Leisure fishing for personal consumption using only a handline without an automatic jigger is allowed without special permit. Any catch obtained may not be sold nor used for financial gain by any other means.