Responsible Fisheries

A decision has been taken to identify Icelandic seafood products, produced from catches in Icelandic waters, with the logo shown here. This logo indicates product origin in Iceland from responsible fi sheries. The logo can be used in all markets for seafood products. It can also be used to identify catch of Icelandic vessels from straddling stocks which are under integrated management. In recent years, demand for sustainable use of renewable resources, including fish stocks, has increased greatly throughout the world, not least in leading markets for Icelandic seafood.

Few nations are as dependent upon sustainable fisheries as Iceland is, making it of prime importance to harvest fish stocks responsibly and sustainably. In August 2007, Iceland issued a Statement on Responsible Fisheries in Iceland. The statement was signed by the Minister of Fisheries, the Director of the Marine Research Institute, the Director of Fisheries and the Chairman of the Fisheries Association of Iceland. The Statement is available on the website www.fisheries.is, where information is also provided on the state of Iceland's fishing stocks and its fisheries management.
Certifying responsible fisheries

Fisheries stakeholders have also decided, with the support of the government, to request third party certifi cation by an independent, internationally recognised, accredited certifi cation body to confi rm that Iceland pursues responsible fi sheries. The certifi cation body will assess fi shery conformance to a specifi cation based on the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries. Responsibility for the project rests with the Fisheries Association of Iceland.

Abstract of the Statement on responsible fisheries in Iceland

Sustainable and responsible fisheries are fundamental to the Icelandic fishing industry as one of the principal pillars in Iceland’s economy. Fisheries management is based on extensive scientific research, responsible allocation of fishing rights and effective monitoring and enforcement of management decisions.

Stock assessment and scientific advice by the Marine Research Institute are the basis for the total allowable catch (TAC) allocation from each stock. Icelandic fisheries scientists are members of international scientific organisations and their work and methods are constantly evaluated to ensure conformity with demands that meet international scientific criteria.

Iceland operates a system of individual transferable quotas (ITQs). All commercially important stocks are subject to catch limitations by a TAC issued every year and quotas for individual vessels are allocated on that basis. The quotas represent shares in the TAC for each stock. The shares are permanent, and freely transferable.

Effective control of landings is fundamental in responsible fisheries management. Landings are weighed by certified harbour officials and regularly monitored by inspectors from the Directorate of Fisheries. Landings are reported on a daily basis. Inspectors also check fishing gear, catch composition and handling on-board. Conformity between reported landings, reported sales of fish for processing and reported export of products is checked on a regular basis. Violation of fisheries management legislation is punishable, whether it is caused by intent or negligence. Discards are prohibited and punishable by law.

Research on fishing gear and its impact on the marine habitat further underpins knowledge of the ecosystem of the ocean around Iceland.

Complete area closures or limitations on fishing gear are in force for protection of juveniles, spawning areas and vulnerable habitats.

Systematic research in the Icelandic fisheries goes back 70 years but their management continues to be a process of improvements and learning. In recent years, the ecosystem approach to the fisheries management has become a field of concerted research.

The above abstract is linked to the full statement