FISHING VESSELS AND GEAR

For centuries fishing in Iceland meant strenuous and dangerous work in small open boats until the introduction of decked sailboats and, in latter times, motorised decked boats and larger vessels decreased the toil. Fishing, however, still claimed many lives.

The first small trawler arrived in Iceland in 1905 and motorised trawlers soon replaced the decked sailboats. After the First World War, catches in the demersal fisheries increased rapidly but foreign fishing far exceeded Icelandic catches until the Second World War. In the second half of this century the Icelandic fleet has been constantly modernised for improved efficiency, comfort of the crew and safer working conditions. In 2006 there were 1,692 vessels in the Icelandic fishing fleet, including 777 small undecked boats and 915 decked vessels. The total capacity was close to 180,000 in gross tonnage (grt). 

Fishing gear has also been revolutionised even though the basic principles of catching fish by hook, gillnet, purse seine or trawl are still the same. Handlines are now worked by computerised jigging reels and the trawl works both for the demersal and the midwater fisheries. Gear devices for improved selectivity of catch have been developed and are increasingly required in many of the fisheries. And the captain has the use of the latest instruments for locating his catch and regulating its intake on board.

A brief description of the Icelandic fishing fleet and its gear follows, together with trends in fishing effort.

• The Icelandic fishing fleet
• Gear and selectivity devices
• Fishing effort
• Icelandic fishing grounds
  

Latest update July 2007