| Framework | Reference_point | Value | Technical_basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSY Approach | MSY Btrigger | 12400 | Bpa |
| FMSY | 0.41 | F that leads to MSY in the long term; estimated using stochastic simulations | |
| Precautionary Approach | Blim | 10100 | Bloss (SSB in 1990) |
| Bpa | 12400 | Bpa=Blim x e1.645 * σB; using σB = 0.12 | |
| Flim | 0.57 | Fishing mortality that in stochastic equilibrium will result in median SSB at Blim. | |
| Fpa | 0.46 | Fp05; maximum F at which the probability of SSB falling below Blim is <5% | |
| Management plan | mgt Btrigger | 12400 | From the management plan |
| FMGT | 0.3 | From the management plan |
Key signals
Survey biomass indices declined sharply in the early part of the time series, reached low levels around 1997–2002, increased gradually from 2003 to 2016, and have remained relatively stable since 2017. The most recent spring survey index is comparable to levels observed in the early 1990s.
The biomass index for larger plaice (>47 cm) has increased substantially since the low period in 1997–2002 and reached a new peak in 2024.
The recruitment index (<20 cm) has remained low since 1998, with only occasional small peaks. Recruitment is poorly covered by the spring and autumn surveys, as the main nursery areas are located in shallow habitats.
Both survey and commercial catch data show a gradual shift in length distributions towards larger fish. Mean length has increased in both the catch and survey time series.
The analytical assessment indicates that fishing mortality has declined and spawning stock biomass has increased in recent years. Available indicators suggest that the stock is currently in good condition.
Assessment uncertainty remains, primarily due to limited information on recruitment from the survey data.
General information
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) is found on the continental shelf surrounding Iceland, with highest abundance in the southwest and west. It primarily inhabits sandy or muddy substrates at depths ranging from the coastline down to 200 meters, and occasionally deeper (Jónsson and Pálsson 2013).
Plaice exhibit sexual dimorphism: females grow larger than males and reach maturity at a larger size. Few males exceed 45 cm in length, whereas females can reach up to 85 cm; a similar proportion of females exceed 55 cm as males exceed 45 cm. Size at sexual maturity also differs by sex — about 50% of males are mature at 33 cm, while females reach that level at around 38 cm. Spawning occurs mainly at depths of 50–100 meters in the relatively warm waters south and west of Iceland, with limited spawning activity off the northwest and north coasts (Sigurðsson 1989; Solmundsson, Palsson, and Karlsson 2005).
After metamorphosis, 0-group juveniles settle in shallow coastal waters, typically just below the tidemark during their first summer (Hjorleifsson and Palsson 2001; Gunnarsson, Jonasson, and McAdam 2010).
Genetic studies (Le Moan, Bekkevold, and Hemmer-Hansen 2021; Hoarau et al. 2004) indicate that plaice on the Icelandic and Faroese shelves are genetically distinct from those elsewhere. Tagging experiments have shown that plaice remain on the Icelandic continental shelf, although they move between regions (Solmundsson, Palsson, and Karlsson 2005). Combined with observed seasonal shifts in distribution between spring and autumn surveys, these findings suggest little variation in population structure within Icelandic waters.
Fishery
Landing trends
Plaice landings in Division 5.a peaked historically at around 14.5 thousand tonnes in 1985. Since then, landings have declined and stabilized over the past two decades, typically ranging between 5 and 8 thousand tonnes annually (Figure 1). In 2025, landings were estimated at approximately 6737 thousand tonnes (Figure 1 and Table 2).
Before the expansion of the Icelandic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to 200 nautical miles in 1975, foreign vessels accounted for a substantial share of plaice landings (Figure 1). They dominated the fishery prior to World War II, but during the war, the Icelandic fleet increased its catches. From around 1960 onward, most plaice landings have been by Icelandic vessels.
Demersal seine is the primary gear used (Figure 2), accounting for 59–71% of the catch since 2011, followed by demersal trawl (23–37%). A small share is also caught with gillnets and longlines (Table 2). Seiners dominate the coastal fishery, while trawlers operate in deeper and more offshore areas.
Since 2000, the number of vessels reporting plaice catches annually has declined, while total catches have increased in recent years (Figure 3 and Table 2). The most notable decrease has occurred in the demersal seine fleet, which fell from 125 vessels in 2000 to 36 in 2024. The number of trawlers has also gradually declined over the same period, reaching around 52 vessels in 2025.
The main fishing grounds for plaice are located on the southwestern, western, and northwestern part of the Icelandic shelf, with smaller fishing areas in the southeast and several fjords in the north (Figure 4; Figure 5). Since 2000, the spatial distribution of the plaice fishery has remained relatively stable, with around 60% of the catch taken from the western and northwestern shelf (Figure 5).
Plaice is typically caught in relatively shallow waters, with 60–80% of the catch taken at depths between 21 and 80 meters (Figure 6).
Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) and fishing effort
Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) estimates for plaice in Icelandic waters are not considered representative of stock abundance, as they are not standardized for changes in fleet composition or technological improvements.
Non-standardized CPUE for demersal seine (kg/set) is calculated from sets where plaice made up more than 10% of the catch. These estimates increased gradually from about 120 kg/set in the early 2000s to over 450 kg/set in 2016 (Figure 7), and have fluctuated around that level in recent years.
For demersal trawl (kg/hour), using hauls where plaice constituted more than 10% of the catch, CPUE increased rapidly between 2000 and 2015, peaking at 260 kg/hour. Since then, CPUE has declined and was approximately 150 kg/hour in the most recent year.
Landings and discards
All landings in Division 5.a before 1982 are derived from the ICES STATLANT database. This also applies to foreign landings in 5.a up to 2005. Between 1982 and 1993, landings by Icelandic vessels were collected by the Fisheries Association of Iceland. From 1994 onward, landings by Icelandic vessels are provided by the Icelandic Directorate of Fisheries. Foreign landings (primarily by Norwegian and Faroese vessels) were recorded by the Icelandic Coast Guard until 2014; after that, they have also been recorded by the Directorate of Fisheries.
Discarding is banned by law in the Icelandic fishery. Discard rates for plaice have been estimated as negligible since at least since 2001 (MRI 2016). Various measures in the management system, such as converting quota shares between species, are widely used by the fleet and are believed to discourage discarding in mixed fisheries. To further prevent high grading and quota mismatches, vessels are allowed to land catches that exceed their quota. These landings are not counted against the vessel’s allocated quota, provided the proceeds from the sale go to the Fisheries Project Fund (Verkefnasjóður sjávarútvegsins).
Data and sampling
Commercial data
Biological sampling from the main gears (demersal seine and bottom trawl) in commercial plaice catches is generally considered to be good, providing satisfactory spatial and temporal coverage of the fishery. Prior to 2014, approximately 6,000–7,000 fish were aged annually from around 150 samples per year. Following a reduction in sampling intensity in 2014, the number of samples taken annually from demersal seine has ranged from 24 to 58, and from bottom trawl from 21 to 53. No samples are collected from other gear types, as these account for only approximately 5% of the total plaice catch. An overview of the number of samples per month is presented in Figure 8 and sampling coverage by gear in 2025 is shown in Figure 9.
Length composition
An overview of available length measurements from Division 5.a is provided in Table 3. Most measurements come from the two main fleet segments — demersal trawls and seines (Figure 10).
The size distribution of plaice caught by these gears has remained relatively stable, with most fish ranging between 35 and 55 cm in length. However, there has been a gradual shift toward larger sizes in the catch, reflecting an increase in the effective minimum landing size in both fleets. As a result, the average length in commercial catch samples increased from 35 cm in 1991 to 44.6 cm in 2021, and has decreased slightly since then. Mean length differs by gear type, with trawlers generally landing larger plaice.
Age composition
Table 4 provides an overview of otolith sampling intensity by gear type in division 5.a.
Between 2002 and 2005, fish aged 4–7 years made up approximately 60% of the landed plaice catch (by number). Since then, the proportion of these age classes has declined, averaging around 40–45% in the past five years. In recent years, the catch has included a higher proportion of older fish, with individuals aged 6–11 years being especially prominent in the most recent samples (Figure 11; Figure 12).
Weight at age
Mean weight at age in commercial catches is shown in Figure 13 and Figure 14. Since 1995, mean weight at age has increased across all age groups, and has remained above the long-term average over the past decade.
Survey data
Information on the abundance and biological characteristics of plaice in Division 5.a is available from two main surveys: the Icelandic spring groundfish survey (hereafter spring survey, IGFS) and the Icelandic autumn groundfish survey (hereafter autumn survey, IAGS).
The spring survey has been conducted annually in March since 1985 and covers the primary distribution area of the plaice fishery. The autumn survey began in 1996 but was not conducted in 2011. While the spring survey is considered more reliable for detecting changes in overall abundance and biomass, it does not adequately cover the main recruitment areas, which are located in shallow habitats unsuitable for demersal trawling.
To address this limitation, a dedicated flatfish survey using a beam trawl was carried out annually in July/August from 2016 to 2022, targeting recruitment grounds for plaice and other flatfish species (Thorlacius et al. 2024). This beam trawl survey was discontinued after 2022.
Figure 15 shows trends in various biomass indices and a recruitment index based on the abundance of plaice smaller than 20 cm. The total biomass index of plaice, as well as the biomass of fish larger than 30 cm (representing the harvestable portion of the stock), declined sharply during the early years of the spring survey and reached a minimum between 1997 and 2002. From 2003 to 2016, the indices increased gradually and then stabilized. Since 2017, annual fluctuations have been relatively minor. The most recent spring survey index corresponds to biomass levels observed in the early 1990s and remains at only one-third to half of the levels recorded during the first four years of the time series.
The index of plaice larger than 47 cm also declined to its lowest point in 1997–2002, but has since increased and, in recent years, reached levels comparable to the beginning of the time series, with a new peak in 2024.
The recruitment index (plaice <20 cm) has remained at a low level since 1998, with only occasional small peaks. However, as noted, neither the spring nor the autumn survey provides an accurate measure of recruitment.
Trends in the autumn survey mirror those of the spring survey, although with higher variability (i.e., larger standard deviations).
Plaice is mainly caught in the northwest and on the main spawning grounds off the west coast during the spring survey in 2026, and on the species’ primary feeding grounds in the northwest during the autumn survey in 2025 (Figure 16). The spatial distribution of plaice catch in surveys shows some temporal variability, particularly in the relative catches between the west and northwest regions (Figure 17). This may reflect annual variation in the timing of plaice migration to their traditional spawning grounds in the west, as the spring survey coincides with this migration period each year.
The length distribution of plaice in the spring survey (Figure 18) has shifted toward larger sizes, consistent with trends observed in the landed catch. The average length of plaice increased from 33.5 cm in 1995 to just above 42 cm in 2026. Data from the autumn survey (SMH) show a similar pattern, with a clear increase in average length over time.
Stock weight at age
Stock wights from the spring survey are shown in Figure 22. Stock weights have been above average in all age groups except 3-year-olds over the past decade.
Stock maturity at age
Maturity of female plaice by age from the spring survey is shown in Figure 21. During 2007-2008, a shoft occurred in maturity-at-age and over the past 15 years female plaice have been maturing earlier than during 1985-2007 period.
Stock assessment
Model and data inputs
Plaice in Division 5.a was benchmarked for the first time in April 2022 (WKICEMP 2022) and was assessed by ICES for the first time the same year.
The assessment is conducted using a state-space stock assessment model (SAM), which is a statistical catch-at-age model informed by:
- Commercial catch-at-age data from 1979 onward (Figure 11)
- Icelandic spring groundfish survey data from 1985 (Figure 19)
- Recruitment estimated annually at age 3
Model configuration and settings are detailed in the Stock Annex (ICES 2022). The model uses age 12 as the maximum age group, treated as a plus group.
No direct information is available on natural mortality. For both assessment and advisory purposes, natural mortality is assumed to be 0.15 across all age groups.
Mean weight at age in the spring groundfish survey (SMB) is shown in Figure 22 and Figure 20. Over the past decade, weight-at-age estimates from SMB have been above average for nearly all year classes. These values are also used to estimate mean weight at age in the spawning stock, derived from length data. Stock weights for ages 9 and older are smoothed using a 3-year running average, and for years prior to 1985, stock weights are assumed constant at 1985 levels.
Maturity-at-age data from SMB are presented in Figure 23 and Figure 21. Following ICES PGCCDBS (2017) guidelines, maturity at age is based on mature females. For years before 1985, the proportion mature is assumed fixed at 1985 levels. Maturity at age is estimated from annual maturity-at-length ogives using logistic regression, with individuals treated as fixed effects. These values are then smoothed using a 3-year running average. In the years 2007–2008, a shift occurred in maturity at age and plaice began to mature earlier than during the period 1985–2007.
Diagnostics and fit
Model fits to the survey indices and catch-at-age data are shown in Figure 24. In general, the SAM model tracks both the catch-at-age data and the spring survey indices well, except for some deviations in the youngest age classes.
Residual diagnostics do not indicate any clear patterns or trends in either the observation or process residuals (Figure 25; Figure 26). The overall model fit is further evaluated in Figure 27, which compares observed and predicted survey biomass.
Results
The results of this year’s assessment are shown in Figure 28. The model indicates a marked decline in recruitment at age 3 beginning in 1993, followed by an increase in fishing mortality and a decline in total catches. Spawning stock biomass (SSB) reached its lowest level around the turn of the century.
In recent years, recruitment has remained stable at the lower post-1993 level, while fishing mortality has declined and SSB has increased. Catches have remained relatively stable, with a slight downward trend.
The analytical retrospective pattern, based on a five-year peel, is shown in Figure 29. The retrospective plots do not indicate any substantial deviations in the assessment.
Mohn’s \(\rho\) values for spawning stock biomass (-0.094), fishing mortality (0.107), and recruitment (0.024) are low and fall well within the acceptable range recommended by Carvalho et al. (2021).
Short-term projections
Short-term projections are carried out using the standard procedure in SAM via the forecast function. Three-year averages are applied for stock weights, catch weights, and maturity. The projections form the basis for the catch advice (Table 5).
The advice is aligned with the Icelandic fishing year, which begins in September, whereas the assessment model operates on a calendar-year basis. This mismatch requires adaptation of the standard SAM projection procedure to accommodate the offset between assessment and advisory years.
Given the assessment in year \(y\), interim year catches are based on the following fishing mortality:
\[ F_{y} = \left(\frac{8}{12}F_{sq} + \frac{4}{12} F_{mgt}\right) \]
and therefore the total catches for year \(y\) will be:
\[ C_{y} = \frac{F_{y}}{F_{y} + M} \left(1 - e^{-(F_{y} + M)}\right)B_{y} \]
and the part of the catch in the fishing year y-1/y will be
\[ \frac{\frac{8}{12}F_{sq}}{\left(\frac{8}{12}F_{sq} + \frac{4}{12} F_{mgt}\right)} C_y \]
and the catch in fishing year y/y+1 will be:
\[ C_{y/y+1} = \frac{\frac{4}{12}F_{mgt}}{\left(\frac{8}{12}F_{sq} + \frac{4}{12} F_{mgt}\right)} C_y + \frac{8}{12}C_{y+1} \]
where
\[ C_{y+1} = \frac{F_{mgt}}{F_{mgt} + M} \left(1 - e^{-(F_{mgt} + M)}\right)B_{y} \]
Reference points and advice basis
History
The Ministry of Industries is responsible for the management of Icelandic fisheries and the implementation of relevant legislation. Each fishing year (1 September – 31 August), the Ministry issues regulations for commercial fishing, including the allocation of total allowable catch (TAC) for stocks subject to such limitations.
Plaice was incorporated into the individual transferable quota (ITQ) system in the 1991/1992 fishing year and has since been subject to TAC restrictions. For the first six years, the TAC for plaice was set higher than the levels recommended by the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI). From the 2010/2011 fishing year onwards, the TAC has been set in accordance with MFRI advice (Figure 30). This was partly due to the absence of a formal harvest control rule for the stock and the flexibility within the management system, which allows for both inter-annual quota transfers and species transformations (i.e., converting TAC between species).
Figure 31 shows net quota transfers involving plaice in the Icelandic ITQ system. Between 2002 and 2008, there was a net transfer of quota from other species into plaice (positive values). From 2009 to 2015, this trend reversed, with plaice quota being transferred to other species. In recent years, species transfers involving plaice have been minimal, except in 2020/2021 when approximately 1 500 tonnes were transferred to plaice quota from other species. Net transfers of plaice quota between fishing years have varied annually, ranging from +10% to –12%.
Harvest control rule
As part of the WKICEMP 2022 HCR evaluations (ICES 2022), the following reference points were defined. This resulted in an estimate of \(B_{pa}\) of 12 400 t, based on the lowest observed SSB in 1990. The limit reference point was defined as \(B_{lim} = B_{pa} e^{-1.645\sigma_B}\), yielding 10 100 t, where \(\sigma_B\) was set to the value of 0.12. Fishing pressure, defined as the fishing mortality applied to ages 5–10, was estimated in accordance with ICES guidelines. This resulted in estimates of \(F_{lim} = 0.57\), \(F_{p05} = 0.46\), and \(F_{msy} = 0.41\). The MSY \(B_{trigger}\) was set equal to \(B_{pa}\).
The proposed HCR for the Icelandic plaice fishery, which sets a TAC for the fishing year y/y+1 (September 1 of year y to August 31 of year y+1) based on a fishing mortality \(F_{mgt}\) of 0.30 applied to ages 5 to 10, modified by the ratio SSB\(_{y}\)/MGT B\(_{trigger}\) when SSB\(_y\) < MGT B\(_{trigger}\), maintains a high yield while being precautionary as it results in lower than 5% probability of SSB < B\(_{lim}\) in the medium and long term.
Management considerations
All available indicators from commercial catch and survey data suggest that the plaice stock in Icelandic waters is currently in good condition. This conclusion is supported by the results of the analytical assessment.
However, there is considerable uncertainty in the model, primarily due to limited information on recruitment from the spring survey.
Tables
| Year | Nr. demersal seiners | Nr. bottom trawlers | Nr. Other | Demersal seine | Bottom trawl | Other | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 125 | 134 | 450 | 3 070 | 1 747 | 442 | 5 259 |
| 2001 | 95 | 127 | 521 | 2 924 | 1 402 | 600 | 4 926 |
| 2002 | 96 | 118 | 420 | 3 426 | 1 270 | 446 | 5 142 |
| 2003 | 95 | 115 | 389 | 3 590 | 1 295 | 372 | 5 257 |
| 2004 | 95 | 108 | 399 | 4 037 | 1 375 | 294 | 5 706 |
| 2005 | 88 | 105 | 352 | 3 909 | 1 638 | 255 | 5 802 |
| 2006 | 87 | 99 | 365 | 3 720 | 2 449 | 212 | 6 381 |
| 2007 | 82 | 98 | 355 | 3 311 | 2 232 | 267 | 5 810 |
| 2008 | 80 | 93 | 322 | 3 836 | 2 605 | 285 | 6 726 |
| 2009 | 70 | 85 | 315 | 3 889 | 2 125 | 310 | 6 324 |
| 2010 | 61 | 85 | 328 | 3 647 | 2 038 | 299 | 5 984 |
| 2011 | 55 | 80 | 357 | 3 021 | 1 655 | 267 | 4 943 |
| 2012 | 54 | 88 | 374 | 4 079 | 1 410 | 437 | 5 926 |
| 2013 | 56 | 87 | 317 | 4 040 | 1 583 | 364 | 5 987 |
| 2014 | 45 | 74 | 317 | 4 239 | 1 380 | 308 | 5 927 |
| 2015 | 50 | 74 | 319 | 4 403 | 2 001 | 350 | 6 754 |
| 2016 | 44 | 73 | 280 | 4 896 | 2 120 | 430 | 7 446 |
| 2017 | 48 | 71 | 283 | 4 579 | 1 765 | 351 | 6 695 |
| 2018 | 47 | 66 | 257 | 5 584 | 2 436 | 321 | 8 341 |
| 2019 | 44 | 63 | 276 | 4 287 | 2 231 | 316 | 6 834 |
| 2020 | 41 | 65 | 213 | 4 682 | 2 474 | 350 | 7 506 |
| 2021 | 37 | 63 | 238 | 4 719 | 3 604 | 355 | 8 678 |
| 2022 | 40 | 62 | 210 | 4 307 | 2 743 | 227 | 7 277 |
| 2023 | 41 | 56 | 207 | 3 955 | 2 504 | 237 | 6 696 |
| 2024 | 36 | 57 | 197 | 4 566 | 2 674 | 327 | 7 567 |
| 2025 | 38 | 52 | 198 | 3 937 | 2 563 | 237 | 6 737 |
| Year |
Bottom Trawl
|
Danish Seine
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Num. samples | Num. lengths | Num. samples | Num. lengths | |
| 2000 | 33 | 4 261 | 49 | 7 185 |
| 2001 | 9 | 1 003 | 51 | 7 517 |
| 2002 | 18 | 2 392 | 69 | 11 263 |
| 2003 | 21 | 3 278 | 96 | 13 804 |
| 2004 | 28 | 3 834 | 150 | 21 216 |
| 2005 | 35 | 5 251 | 139 | 20 583 |
| 2006 | 60 | 8 102 | 135 | 19 222 |
| 2007 | 49 | 6 837 | 124 | 17 073 |
| 2008 | 77 | 11 359 | 129 | 17 471 |
| 2009 | 50 | 7 201 | 136 | 19 106 |
| 2010 | 62 | 9 608 | 126 | 17 387 |
| 2011 | 55 | 7 609 | 110 | 16 857 |
| 2012 | 39 | 5 723 | 129 | 18 329 |
| 2013 | 31 | 4 688 | 115 | 16 647 |
| 2014 | 21 | 2 531 | 53 | 7 271 |
| 2015 | 33 | 4 142 | 44 | 5 997 |
| 2016 | 32 | 4 757 | 58 | 8 075 |
| 2017 | 28 | 3 527 | 52 | 6 231 |
| 2018 | 24 | 3 506 | 43 | 5 666 |
| 2019 | 36 | 4 838 | 47 | 5 990 |
| 2020 | 27 | 2 788 | 24 | 3 031 |
| 2021 | 53 | 6 922 | 42 | 5 067 |
| 2022 | 34 | 4 507 | 26 | 3 211 |
| 2023 | 41 | 4 474 | 31 | 3 486 |
| 2024 | 51 | 7 085 | 34 | 4 390 |
| 2025 | 35 | 4 197 | 32 | 3 962 |
| Year |
Bottom Trawl
|
Danish Seine
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Num. samples | Num. otoliths | Num. samples | Num. otoliths | |
| 2000 | 32 | 1 507 | 48 | 2 400 |
| 2001 | 7 | 350 | 45 | 2 250 |
| 2002 | 12 | 599 | 49 | 2 424 |
| 2003 | 11 | 550 | 63 | 3 149 |
| 2004 | 17 | 820 | 74 | 3 701 |
| 2005 | 20 | 1 000 | 61 | 3 036 |
| 2006 | 29 | 1 450 | 64 | 3 200 |
| 2007 | 30 | 1 500 | 64 | 3 199 |
| 2008 | 37 | 1 850 | 62 | 3 099 |
| 2009 | 25 | 1 250 | 64 | 3 180 |
| 2010 | 41 | 2 016 | 78 | 3 901 |
| 2011 | 50 | 2 452 | 84 | 4 200 |
| 2012 | 37 | 1 835 | 104 | 5 199 |
| 2013 | 27 | 1 350 | 101 | 5 010 |
| 2014 | 20 | 575 | 36 | 900 |
| 2015 | 27 | 670 | 32 | 800 |
| 2016 | 23 | 573 | 45 | 1 125 |
| 2017 | 22 | 550 | 39 | 974 |
| 2018 | 16 | 400 | 35 | 880 |
| 2019 | 19 | 476 | 30 | 750 |
| 2020 | 22 | 550 | 22 | 550 |
| 2021 | 49 | 1 225 | 36 | 900 |
| 2022 | 27 | 560 | 23 | 470 |
| 2023 | 31 | 620 | 30 | 598 |
| 2024 | 37 | 740 | 29 | 579 |
| 2025 | 34 | 680 | 28 | 560 |
| Year | F(5-10) | Recruitment | SSB | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.261 | 16589 | 21478 | 7002 |
| 2027 | 0.300 | 16856 | 20566 | 7933 |
| 2028 | 0.300 | 16856 | 19535 | 7508 |
| assessment_year | ices_area | tac | advice_period | advice | advice_basis.en | advice_basis.is | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5a | 11 000 | 1991/1992 | 10 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 10 175 |
| 1992 | 5a | 13 000 | 1992/1993 | 10 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 15 474 |
| 1993 | 5a | 13 000 | 1993/1994 | 10 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 12 465 |
| 1994 | 5a | 13 000 | 1994/1995 | 10 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 11 320 |
| 1995 | 5a | 13 000 | 1995/1996 | 10 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 11 197 |
| 1996 | 5a | 12 000 | 1996/1997 | 10 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 10 516 |
| 1997 | 5a | 9 000 | 1997/1998 | 9 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 8 241 |
| 1998 | 5a | 7 000 | 1998/1999 | 7 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 7 711 |
| 1999 | 5a | 4 000 | 1999/2000 | 4 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 4 975 |
| 2000 | 5a | 4 000 | 2000/2001 | 4 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 4 946 |
| 2001 | 5a | 5 000 | 2001/2002 | 4 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 4 420 |
| 2002 | 5a | 5 000 | 2002/2003 | 4 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 5 427 |
| 2003 | 5a | 4 500 | 2003/2004 | 4 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 5 861 |
| 2004 | 5a | 5 000 | 2004/2005 | 4 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 193 |
| 2005 | 5a | 5 000 | 2005/2006 | 4 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 5 659 |
| 2006 | 5a | 6 000 | 2006/2007 | 5 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 144 |
| 2007 | 5a | 6 500 | 2007/2008 | 5 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 624 |
| 2008 | 5a | 6 500 | 2008/2009 | 5 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 368 |
| 2009 | 5a | 6 500 | 2009/2010 | 5 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 389 |
| 2010 | 5a | 6 500 | 2010/2011 | 6 500 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 4 846 |
| 2011 | 5a | 6 500 | 2011/2012 | 6 500 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 5 819 |
| 2012 | 5a | 6 500 | 2012/2013 | 6 500 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 5 935 |
| 2013 | 5a | 6 500 | 2013/2014 | 6 500 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 036 |
| 2014 | 5a | 7 000 | 2014/2015 | 7 000 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 230 |
| 2015 | 5a | 6 500 | 2015/2016 | 6 500 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 7 612 |
| 2016 | 5a | 7 330 | 2016/2017 | 7 330 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 6 373 |
| 2017 | 5a | 7 103 | 2017/2018 | 7 103 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 8 208 |
| 2018 | 5a | 7 132 | 2018/2019 | 7 132 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 7 096 |
| 2019 | 5a | 6 985 | 2019/2020 | 6 985 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 7 177 |
| 2020 | 5a | 7 037 | 2020/2021 | 7 037 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 9 082 |
| 2021 | 5a | 7 805 | 2021/2022 | 7 805 | Domestic advice | Innlend ráðgjöf | 7 306 |
| 2022 | 5a | 7 663 | 2022/2023 | 7 663 | Management plan | Aflaregla | 7 329 |
| 2023 | 5a | 7 830 | 2023/2024 | 7 830 | Management plan | Aflaregla | 7 109 |
| 2024 | 5a | 7 878 | 2024/2025 | 7 878 | Management plan | Aflaregla | 7 111 |
| 2025 | 5a | 7 871 | 2025/2026 | 7 871 | Management plan | Aflaregla | — |
| Year | low Recruitment | Recruitment | high Recruitment | low SSB | SSB | high SSB | Catches | low F(5-10) | F(5-10) | high F(5-10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 22 183 | 26 307 | 31 197 | 8 783 | 9 659 | 10 624 | 5 530 | 0.291 | 0.338 | 0.393 |
| 1981 | 25 978 | 30 445 | 35 681 | 9 563 | 10 504 | 11 537 | 3 951 | 0.193 | 0.221 | 0.254 |
| 1982 | 30 117 | 35 175 | 41 084 | 11 464 | 12 482 | 13 591 | 6 340 | 0.187 | 0.212 | 0.240 |
| 1983 | 31 865 | 37 078 | 43 143 | 13 691 | 14 783 | 15 962 | 8 553 | 0.311 | 0.349 | 0.391 |
| 1984 | 32 048 | 37 123 | 43 002 | 14 605 | 15 735 | 16 953 | 11 342 | 0.431 | 0.483 | 0.542 |
| 1985 | 34 145 | 39 641 | 46 020 | 13 300 | 14 385 | 15 558 | 14 473 | 0.365 | 0.414 | 0.469 |
| 1986 | 33 205 | 38 900 | 45 572 | 13 558 | 14 663 | 15 858 | 12 705 | 0.270 | 0.304 | 0.343 |
| 1987 | 34 286 | 39 606 | 45 752 | 14 145 | 15 285 | 16 516 | 11 157 | 0.357 | 0.400 | 0.449 |
| 1988 | 33 038 | 38 260 | 44 306 | 12 545 | 13 632 | 14 813 | 14 032 | 0.476 | 0.531 | 0.591 |
| 1989 | 29 401 | 34 355 | 40 144 | 9 625 | 10 607 | 11 689 | 11 307 | 0.295 | 0.333 | 0.375 |
| 1990 | 33 396 | 38 629 | 44 682 | 9 128 | 10 069 | 11 107 | 11 343 | 0.359 | 0.399 | 0.443 |
| 1991 | 28 549 | 33 057 | 38 277 | 7 876 | 8 774 | 9 775 | 10 713 | 0.378 | 0.418 | 0.461 |
| 1992 | 34 110 | 39 508 | 45 762 | 7 219 | 8 101 | 9 092 | 10 464 | 0.359 | 0.395 | 0.434 |
| 1993 | 35 208 | 40 652 | 46 937 | 6 614 | 7 431 | 8 348 | 12 702 | 0.488 | 0.533 | 0.582 |
| 1994 | 16 519 | 19 175 | 22 259 | 6 464 | 7 215 | 8 052 | 12 040 | 0.557 | 0.607 | 0.661 |
| 1995 | 17 775 | 20 607 | 23 889 | 6 981 | 7 645 | 8 372 | 10 813 | 0.396 | 0.434 | 0.475 |
| 1996 | 15 066 | 17 340 | 19 958 | 6 912 | 7 480 | 8 094 | 11 281 | 0.540 | 0.587 | 0.637 |
| 1997 | 12 484 | 14 480 | 16 797 | 5 838 | 6 263 | 6 717 | 10 743 | 0.542 | 0.592 | 0.645 |
| 1998 | 12 034 | 14 084 | 16 483 | 4 442 | 4 747 | 5 074 | 7 443 | 0.380 | 0.416 | 0.455 |
| 1999 | 10 054 | 11 725 | 13 673 | 4 875 | 5 173 | 5 488 | 7 145 | 0.461 | 0.503 | 0.549 |
| 2000 | 14 398 | 16 640 | 19 231 | 3 547 | 3 784 | 4 037 | 5 259 | 0.430 | 0.473 | 0.520 |
| 2001 | 17 164 | 19 770 | 22 772 | 4 157 | 4 412 | 4 682 | 4 925 | 0.391 | 0.433 | 0.478 |
| 2002 | 15 462 | 17 828 | 20 556 | 4 819 | 5 129 | 5 459 | 5 143 | 0.369 | 0.412 | 0.459 |
| 2003 | 14 260 | 16 457 | 18 993 | 5 633 | 6 011 | 6 414 | 5 258 | 0.357 | 0.402 | 0.454 |
| 2004 | 11 795 | 13 621 | 15 730 | 6 877 | 7 355 | 7 867 | 5 707 | 0.295 | 0.333 | 0.376 |
| 2005 | 14 856 | 17 084 | 19 645 | 8 090 | 8 688 | 9 331 | 5 802 | 0.273 | 0.306 | 0.344 |
| 2006 | 15 232 | 17 547 | 20 213 | 8 036 | 8 672 | 9 359 | 6 381 | 0.305 | 0.342 | 0.384 |
| 2007 | 12 455 | 14 440 | 16 741 | 10 660 | 11 499 | 12 404 | 5 810 | 0.249 | 0.279 | 0.313 |
| 2008 | 13 732 | 15 874 | 18 350 | 12 914 | 13 871 | 14 899 | 6 725 | 0.294 | 0.329 | 0.368 |
| 2009 | 16 812 | 19 459 | 22 523 | 14 870 | 16 003 | 17 221 | 6 323 | 0.278 | 0.311 | 0.348 |
| 2010 | 16 282 | 18 875 | 21 881 | 14 341 | 15 505 | 16 764 | 5 984 | 0.280 | 0.315 | 0.355 |
| 2011 | 13 440 | 15 547 | 17 984 | 15 016 | 16 270 | 17 629 | 4 943 | 0.223 | 0.252 | 0.285 |
| 2012 | 15 288 | 17 646 | 20 369 | 16 410 | 17 797 | 19 301 | 5 927 | 0.244 | 0.278 | 0.315 |
| 2013 | 15 989 | 18 486 | 21 373 | 15 526 | 16 914 | 18 425 | 5 988 | 0.224 | 0.255 | 0.290 |
| 2014 | 15 706 | 18 247 | 21 199 | 16 558 | 18 061 | 19 701 | 5 927 | 0.208 | 0.237 | 0.270 |
| 2015 | 14 099 | 16 308 | 18 865 | 19 151 | 20 887 | 22 781 | 6 754 | 0.203 | 0.230 | 0.262 |
| 2016 | 12 738 | 14 789 | 17 170 | 19 804 | 21 677 | 23 727 | 7 451 | 0.222 | 0.253 | 0.288 |
| 2017 | 14 754 | 17 137 | 19 903 | 20 105 | 22 154 | 24 411 | 6 694 | 0.197 | 0.225 | 0.257 |
| 2018 | 16 394 | 19 155 | 22 381 | 19 505 | 21 627 | 23 979 | 8 341 | 0.251 | 0.287 | 0.329 |
| 2019 | 15 327 | 17 970 | 21 069 | 17 927 | 20 106 | 22 550 | 6 835 | 0.192 | 0.221 | 0.255 |
| 2020 | 14 137 | 16 664 | 19 644 | 18 742 | 21 152 | 23 871 | 7 506 | 0.194 | 0.225 | 0.260 |
| 2021 | 13 067 | 15 557 | 18 523 | 18 791 | 21 379 | 24 323 | 8 677 | 0.238 | 0.280 | 0.329 |
| 2022 | 15 758 | 19 045 | 23 017 | 17 772 | 20 603 | 23 885 | 7 277 | 0.199 | 0.238 | 0.285 |
| 2023 | 11 722 | 14 508 | 17 955 | 18 492 | 21 767 | 25 622 | 6 696 | 0.196 | 0.239 | 0.291 |
| 2024 | 12 868 | 16 312 | 20 677 | 17 994 | 21 565 | 25 844 | 7 566 | 0.202 | 0.252 | 0.315 |
| 2025 | 12 056 | 15 626 | 20 254 | 17 614 | 21 537 | 26 334 | 6 737 | 0.183 | 0.234 | 0.300 |
| 2026 | 12 598 | 16 589 | 21 845 | 17 207 | 21 478 | 26 810 | — | — | — | — |
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