Atlantic cod

Icelandic cod is abundant and not subject to overfishing.Cod fishing in Iceland dates back to at least the 1800s. Catches peaked at over 500,000 tonnes in the 1950s, gradually declining to around 150,000t in the 2000s. They have since increased to around 260,000t.Stock assessments are carried out annually by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The most recent assessment was published in 2023 using data up to 2023. The stock assessment defines reference points for harvest rate (HR) and biomass (B). For the harvest rate, there is a target to keep HR at or below Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). For biomass, there is no target. However, there is a trigger point (MSY BTrigger). Below this level, HR should be reduced to allow the stock to increase. Because BMSY is not defined, the Good Fish Guide applies its own definition of 1.4 x MSY BTrigger.The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) was at low levels throughout the 1970s to early 2000s, close to the lowest safe biological limit (125,000 tonnes). It increased to over 500,000 tonnes in 2017 and has since declined to 368,345t in 2023. However, it remains 39% above MSY BTrigger (265,000t). The stock is therefore not in an overfished state.The Harvest Rate (HR) was was high between the 1950s and 2000s, exceeding levels associated with Maximum Sustainable Yield (HR MSY, 0.22). It has rarely been below this level: only in 2013-2016 and again in 2023, when it is 0.20. This is 91% of HR MSY and indicates that the stock is not currently subject to overfishing.Based on Iceland's management plan, catches in the fishing year 2023/2024 should be no more than 211,309 tonnes. This is very similar to the advice from the previous year.

There is a management plan in place, which has successfully reduced fishing pressure. Catch limits are set in line with scientific advice and are expected to keep the stock at target levels. All Icelandic cod landed by the Icelandic fleet is MSC certified. However, management is not adequately controlling the impacts of the fishery on bycatch species. This fishery is MSC certified with conditions relating to bycatch and environmental impacts. There are no requirements or recommendations to make any improvements to management.The Icelandic Ministry of Industries and Innovation (MII) is responsible for management of the Icelandic fisheries and implementation of legislation. Improved management measures by Iceland for most of its major stocks, including cod, haddock, saithe, redfish and herring have resulted in decreased fishing mortality, increased stocks and reduced pressure on benthic habitats.A Harvest Control Rule (HCR) is in place for cod and is reviewed every five years. ICES considers it to be precautionary. It sets catch limits (Total Allowable Catches, TACs) with the aim of maintaining cod at Maximum Sustainable Yield. TACs have been set in line with scientific advice since 2010/11. Landings have exceeded TACs in all but 2 years since 1988, usually by less than 10%. Landings from 2018-2022 averaged 264,010 tonnes, exceeding the average TAC (254,677t) by around 4%.The main reasons given for this by the Icelandic government are: transfer of quota between fishing years or species, allowance for undersized fish, catches of foreign vessels fishing inside the EEZ (Faroes and Norway), and catches for research. TACs only apply to Icelandic fleets, which are responsible for 99% of the total catch. Iceland's scientific advisory body continues to recommend that when setting TACs, managers should take account of all fishing for individual stocks.According to the most recent stock assessment in 2023, estimated fishing pressure is now below MSY and the stock is no longer subject to overfishing.In addition to TACs, the following measures are in place:Fishing is prohibited, for at least two weeks, in areas where more than 25% of the catch (by number) is small cod (less than 55 cm). However, scientists advise that closing small areas for a short time probably doesn't contribute much to the protection of juveniles.Cod spawning areas are closed for 2-3 weeks during the spawning season.Since 1998 the minimum codend mesh size allowed in the trawling fishery has been 135 mm, which could reduce the catch of undersize cod and other unwanted small fish. This is larger than most UK and European fisheries, which is often 120mm.The effects of these measures have not been evaluated.Discarding unwanted fish at sea is banned by the Icelandic government. However, ICES estimates that around 1% of cod landings (by weight) are discarded, and there could be indications that this is increasing.There are a series of measures for monitoring and enforcement, including: publication of individual vessel quotas, independent verification and recording of landings, gear restrictions (and inspections), electronic catch logs, and the coast guard has powers to intercept and inspect vessels. Satellite monitoring of vessel location (through AIS and VMS) is mandatory for all vessels, regardless of size.

Most Icelandic cod catches are by otter trawling, which is likely to cause some damage to the seabed. Bycatch of spotted wolffish and beaked redfish is of concern. There are a number of measures in place to mitigate impacts on species and habitats, but more needs to be done to ensure they are effective.100% of Icelandic cod landed by the Icelandic fleet is MSC certified. Around 50% of cod catches are from bottom trawling; 30% from longlining and the remainder from gillnetting, demersal seine and hooks or jigs. There are no conditions on the certified fishery relating to the impacts of trawling.Demersal otter trawls have the potential to take relatively high quantities of bycatch. Vulnerable fish species include the spotted wolffish, which has been steadily declining and is now at its lowest historical level following recruitment failure. It is mainly caught as bycatch and has a recommended catch limit of around 300t. It survives well after being released, and so over-quota wolffish are recommended to be released. However, the certification report suggests a bycatch in the certified cod longline and trawl fleets of over 600 tonnes each in 2020/21, which appears to account for almost all catches of this species and totals 4 times the recommended limit. It seems likely that this fishery is contributing to the unsustainable fishing pressure on this species and could be preventing recovery.Demersal beaked redfish has been steadily declining and is now below Blim with a zero catch recommendation. No fish younger than 10 years have been found in recent surveys, suggesting recruitment failure and a continued decline. This is a slow growing species that matures at 20 years. MFRI reports that this species is targeted by bottom trawlers, but MSC reports indicate the certified cod trawl fishery caught around 10,000t per year from 2016-2020. This is equivalent to the total reported catch. Status quo fishing pressure is projected to result in a continued decline. Therefore, it appears very likely that this fishery is contributing to the ongoing poor state of the redfish stock.It is illegal to target Atlantic halibut in Iceland, and any viable halibut caught as bycatch must be released. Trawling caught an average of 100t annually from 2016-2020. Biomass appears to have increased in recent years, so this fishery does not appear to be preventing population recovery.Sharks and skates are taken as bycatch in Icelandic fisheries, but the status of many stocks is unknown. There are records of Greenland shark and spurdog bycatch; spurdog is protected under Icelandic law.A low level of grey and harbour seal bycatch was reported in this fishery between 2014 and 2017 averaging 15 and 20 animals respectively. Populations of both species have declined since the 1980s, but this appears to be mainly related to hunting. There has also been a small bycatch of northern gannet. Bird and mammal bycatch levels in this fishery are not expected to have population-level impacts.Demersal trawls have contact with the seabed resulting in penetration and abrasion of habitat features. The impact of trawling on the seabed depends on the location and scale in which trawling occurs. In the Icelandic area, ICES indicates that abrasion from bottom trawling has affected fragile biogenic habitats, e.g. sponge aggregations, coral gardens, and coral reefs, mainly in deeper waters below 200m. Effects of bottom trawling on soft substrates in shallow waters have been shown to be minor. There has been a general reduction in bottom trawling across all Icelandic fisheries, which has led to reduced pressure on the seabed. Data from 2018 indicates that trawling was happening on 17.5% of the seabed area.Fishing grounds for cod vary, depending on the gear type used, but are generally between 100m-500m deep. Bottom trawling takes place offshore, where the habitat is generally sandy mud to muddy sand. The average depth is 230m. The Marine Stewardship Council assessment considers it unlikely that otter trawling is overlapping with any vulnerable seabed habitats (e.g., maerl, coral, sponges) owing to the depth range of the fishery and the inability of trawling to take place on steep slopes. There are closed areas to protect hard corals and hydrothermal vents, and these protections are being extended to other biogenic habitats such as deep-sea sponges and soft corals. Otter trawling is banned within 12nm of the coast. In total, 2% of Icelandic waters are fully protected from bottom fishing.

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