The total fish catch of Icelandic vessels in 2020 was just over 1,021 thousand tonnes, which is 3% more than in 2019. Pelagic catch was 530 thousand tonnes, 5,000 tonnes less than in 2019. No capelin was landed in 2019 and 2020. Demersal catch decreased by 3% between years, from 273 thousand tonnes in 2019 to 277 thousand tonnes in 2020.
The catch in December 2020 was 74 thousand tonnes, a 16% increase compared with December 2019. Demersal catch in the month was 32 thousand tonnes and pelagic catch was about 41 thousand tonnes.
The catch in December 2020 at fixed price was 10,8% more than in December 2019.
Information about catch of fish which are published in this press release are preliminary figures. The data is gathered by the Directorate of Fisheries.
| Fish catch | ||||||
| December | January-December | |||||
| 2019 | 2020 | % | 2019 | 2020 | % | |
| Fish catch at constant prices | ||||||
| Index | 55.7 | 61.8 | 10.8 | |||
| Fish catch in tonnes | ||||||
| Total catch | 63,425 | 73,640 | 16 | 1,048,202 | 1,020,594 | -3 |
| Demersal catch | 28,909 | 31,509 | 8 | 481,512 | 463,175 | -4 |
| Cod | 16,869 | 18,494 | 10 | 273,022 | 276,963 | 1 |
| Haddock | 3,315 | 5,144 | 55 | 57,918 | 54,103 | -7 |
| Saithe | 4,154 | 2,493 | -40 | 64,697 | 50,429 | -22 |
| Redfish | 3,399 | 3,718 | 9 | 53,529 | 52,065 | -3 |
| Other demersal catch | 1,172 | 1,354 | 16 | 32,346 | 29,616 | -8 |
| Flatfish | 764 | 1,064 | 39 | 22,232 | 23,013 | 4 |
| Pelagic catch | 33,610 | 40,948 | 22 | 534,373 | 529,427 | -1 |
| Herring | 3,662 | 1,670 | -54 | 137,936 | 134,167 | -3 |
| Capelin | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - |
| Blue whiting | 29,938 | 39,278 | 31 | 268,351 | 243,738 | -9 |
| Mackerel | 9 | 0 | -100 | 128,085 | 151,521 | 18 |
| Other pelagic catch | 1 | 0 | -100 | 1 | 1 | -11 |
| Shellfish | 154 | 119 | -23 | 10,082 | 4,973 | -51 |
| Other species | 0 | 2 | - | 3 | 5 | 65 |