Top Iceland Fish Catches

Iceland’s fishing industry is a cornerstone of its economy and culture, with a history stretching back over a thousand years. Surrounded by nutrient-rich North Atlantic waters, Iceland boasts some of the world’s most productive fishing grounds. The top fish catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), redfish, and herring, with cod being the most iconic and economically significant. The industry evolved from small-scale, coastal operations to a technologically advanced fleet, especially after the 20th-century “Cod Wars,” which secured exclusive fishing rights for Icelandic vessels. Today, Iceland’s fisheries are renowned for their sustainable management practices, making the nation a global leader in responsible fishing and seafood exports.

Rank	Fish Species	Metric Tons
1	Capelin	450,503
2	Atlantic cod	243,991
3	Blue whiting(=Poutassou)	191,813
4	Atlantic herring	184,319
5	Atlantic mackerel	129,886
6	Saithe(=Pollock)	62,187
7	Haddock	57,186
8	Golden redfish	30,201
9	North Atlantic rockweed	16,100
10	Beaked redfish	9,574
11	Greenland halibut	8,805
12	Atlantic wolffish	8,765
13	European plaice	7,330
14	Argentines	6,877
15	Ling	6,826
16	Lumpfish(=Lumpsucker)	3,971
17	Sea cucumbers nei	2,827
18	Northern prawn	2,458
19	Tangle	2,200
20	Tusk(=Cusk)	1,938
21	Lemon sole	1,255
22	Spotted wolffish	785
23	Whiting	770
24	Common dab	760
25	Witch flounder	669
26	Blue ling	427
27	European edible sea urchin	348
28	Whelk	291
29	Starry ray	221
30	Norway pout	200
31	Atlantic halibut	195
32	Angler(=Monk)	157
33	Fin whale	148
34	Blue skate	106
35	Wolffishes(=Catfishes) nei	86
35	Megrim	86
37	Marine crabs nei	80
38	Amer. plaice(=Long rough dab)	74
38	Roughhead grenadier	74
40	Iceland scallop	72
41	Black scabbardfish	62
42	Atlantic salmon	58
43	Norway redfish	56
44	Sea trout	38
45	Roundnose grenadier	20
46	Orange roughy	18
47	Arctic char	15
48	Greenland shark	8
48	Ocean quahog	8
50	Sailray	7

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.