Key signals
Survey biomass increased steadily from 2008 to 2012, after which high but variable levels were observed in both the spring and autumn surveys. Since 2012, discrepancies have emerged between the two surveys: the spring survey shows a stronger upward trend, while the autumn survey indicates more stable or modest increases. The most recent spring survey, however, shows a marked decline in biomass.
Recruitment (age 3) was substantially higher prior to 1985 but has remained relatively stable over the past decade. The year classes 2020–2022, recruiting in 2023–2025, are at or below the long-term average, suggesting a likely decline in reference biomass as these cohorts reach age 4. Several of these cohorts also exhibit low stock and catch weights at ages 4–7, which make up the bulk of the reference biomass.
Length distributions have been stable over the past decade, reflecting periodic recruitment and a broad range of sizes in the population. However, the abundance of fish in the 30–50 cm range is lower than in most recent years, supporting expectations of reduced biomass in the near term.
Spawning stock biomass (SSB) peaked in 2018–2019, reaching its highest level since before 1970. Although SSB is now declining, it remains relatively high compared to most levels observed since 1980.
Harvest rates exceeded the management target of 0.2 prior to 2022 but have since fluctuated around the target level.
General information
Cod (Gadus morhua) is widely distributed in Icelandic waters, with the highest abundance found on the northwestern, northern, and northeastern parts of the continental shelf. As a demersal species, cod occupies a wide depth range, typically from a few meters down to 600 m, and occasionally deeper. Adult cod are not strongly selective regarding bottom substrate and can be found on a variety of seabed types. In contrast, juveniles prefer moderately sheltered, shallow habitats such as kelp forests and seagrass beds. Cod thrive in sea temperatures around 4–7°C, although they are frequently caught in waters below 2°C.
Cod spawn around the Icelandic coastline in distinct regional spawning components. The primary spawning areas are located in the south, southwest, and west, where spawning begins early in spring (March–April) in warmer waters. In recent years, spawning activity has shifted westward. Historically, spawning occurred later in the colder northern waters, but the spawning period there has advanced considerably. Pelagic eggs and larvae drift predominantly northward and eastward, following a clockwise pattern to nursery areas in the north and northeast. Adult cod undertake feeding migrations to deeper waters in the northwest and southeast, although some remain in shallow areas to feed. Cod is Iceland’s most significant groundfish species in terms of commercial importance.
Fishery
Landing trends
Cod landings from Iceland waters have been consistently high since records began in 1903, typically ranging from 300 to 450 thousand tonnes prior to World War II and again between 1950 and 1990 (Figure 1). During the World Wars, foreign fleets ceased operations in Icelandic waters, while Icelandic catches remained stable. Throughout much of the 20th century, foreign vessels accounted for a significant share of the catch until Iceland extended its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to 200 miles in 1976.
Catch levels have largely been shaped by stock productivity, influenced by both recruitment and immigration from Greenland. Significant migration events from Greenland to Iceland occurred in the 1930s and in 1953. A reduction in fishing effort during World War II also contributed to stock rebuilding.
Between 1955 and 1990, landings gradually declined. From 1992 onward, average catches have been around 218 thousand tonnes (range: 148–270 thousand tonnes). In 2024, landings totaled 220402 tonnes. A small share of this (2314 tonnes) was landed by Norwegian and Faroese vessels under bilateral agreements (Figure 1).
Historically, bottom trawl and gillnets were the primary gear types (Figure 2). Bottom trawl has consistently made up at least 40% of catches, rising to about 55% in recent years, while gillnet use declined from 20% before 2001 to around 7% more recently. Most bottom trawl catches occur in the northwest, while gillnet catches have been concentrated in the south and west during spawning. The share of longline catches has increased over time, with large longline vessels with automatic baiting extending the fishery into deeper waters. Before 2003, longlines accounted for about 20% of catches; this rose to around 35% during 2005–2016. Demersal seines have contributed a steady 5–8% of total catches. In some regions, especially the northwest and southeast, cod aggregate in dense schools, allowing captains to quickly fill quotas, particularly prior to landing. Cod condition and size, along with proximity to landing ports, also influence fishing locations.
In 2024, bottom trawls accounted for more than half of total catches (57%), followed by longlines (23%), gillnets (7%), jiggers (7%), and demersal seines (7%). The largest proportion of the catches were taken from the western and northwestern regions, followed by the northeast and southwest. Catches occurred at similar depths as in previous years, although slightly shallower overall (Figure 2).
The depth distribution of the fishery has shown little change (Figure 3).
Due to its wide distribution, cod is fished across the Icelandic shelf using various gear types (Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6). Demersal trawl is the main fishing gear (Figure 4), with primary fishing areas located in deeper, colder waters offshore in the northwest, northeast, and east. Over recent years, trawl effort has increasingly concentrated in these hotspots.
Longlines account for the second-largest share of cod catches and are widely used around the shelf, with the lowest effort on the southern and southeastern coasts (Figure 5). The spatial pattern of longline catches has remained generally consistent, with periodic hotspots. Gillnets, demersal seines, and jiggers contribute smaller shares and primarily operate in shallower waters (Figure 6).
Since 2000, the share of cod catches from the northwestern area increased from about 35% to 40–50% in 2011–2024 (Figure 7 and Figure 8 ). In contrast, catches west of Iceland declined from 25–30% to just under 20%, and from the southeast, from 5–10% to below 5%. Other areas have remained stable, with the northeast contributing around 20% and the southwest about 10%.
The number of vessels accounting for 95% of annual cod landings declined from around 1000 to 750 during 1994–1999, despite a notable increase in total catch (Figure 9). Between 1999 and 2008, vessel numbers declined further to below 400, in line with reduced catches. After a temporary increase during 2009–2014, the number of vessels has since decreased to around 300. This trend is evident across all fleet segments (Table 1).
