Key signals
- Shrimp fishable biomass index has been under the reference level since 2023.
- Since 2011, shrimp has mainly been located in the inner part of Ísafjarðardjúp.
- Haddock abundance index (1 year and older) increased from 1994 to 2005 and has remained high since.
- Since 2021/2022 shrimp fishing was only allowed in 2022/2023.
General information
Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) is the most common shrimp species in Icelandic waters. It is found all around the country but is most common in cold waters at depths of 10-700 m. While it has been found at greater depths, there are only a few records of it below 1000 m. Northern shrimp are common prey for many fish species, and shrimp stocks are vulnerable to predation. In areas with high levels of predation, shrimp stocks remain small, but they can recover relatively quickly if predation pressure decreases.
A distinction is made between shrimp found in shallow coastal waters and those in offshore waters. Separate advice is provided for shrimp in Ísafjarðardjúp.
The fishery
Shrimp fishing started in Ísafjarðardjúp in the 1930‘s. The catch fluctuated between 1000 and 3100 tonnes between 1978 and 2002. No fishing was allowed in 2003-2010 due to low biomass indices, but since 2011 annual catches have been between 300 and 1100 tonnes (Figure 1). Since 2020/2021 fishing has not been allowed except in 2021/2022. CPUE increased slowly between 1978 and 2003. However, since 2011 CPUE has been higher compared with the years before the closure, mainly due to increased density of shrimp within the innermost part of the fjord.
The distribution of the fishery has varied over time (Figure 2). From 2012-2017, there have been two main fishing areas; at the innermost part of the fjord and the outermost part. Since 2016, most of the catch has been caught at the innermost part of the fjord.
Survey data
The annual Icelandic shrimp survey has been conducted in the autumn since 1988 in Ísafjarðardjúp. The 2026 survey was conducted on 13 - 19 September and included 28 fixed and 13 random stations at depths of 39-129 m. Information on sampling procedure can be found in the manual ‘Handbók um stofnmælingu rækju 2025’ (Jónsdóttir 2026).
From 1988, shrimp was found within the inner part of the fjord as well as in Jökulfirðir. Following the decrease in the biomass index, the distributional area of shrimp decreased (Figure 3). Since 2011, shrimp has been found within a small area at the innermost part of the fjord and in less density at the outermost part of the fjord. In 2026, shrimp was found almost exclusively at the innermost part of the fjord.
Indices
Four indices are used to assess the state of the shrimp stock: total biomass, fishable biomass, female biomass, and juvenile biomass. Juveniles include all individuals equal to and below 13 mm carapace length, while the fishable biomass include all individuals equal to and above 15.5 mm carapace length. The fishable biomass index is used for calculation of the advice. Individuals between 13 and 15.5 mm carapace length are divided between the juvenile and fishable biomass indices. The female biomass includes all females and is defined as the spawning stock biomass.
All the indices, except the juvenile index, gradually decreased from 1990 to 2004 when they were at historically low levels (Figure 4). In 2011, the indices increased and fluctuated for four years. Since 2014 the indices have decreased but were relatively stable between 2018 and 2022, with the exception of 2021, and the fishable index was above the reference level where the state of the stock is considered critical. The fishable index value of 20% of the mean of the three highest indices (Ilim) is used as a proxy for Blim. In 2023-2026, the fishable index has remained below the reference level.
Length distribution
In 2026, both male and female length distribution were below average (Figure 5).
Abundance of Atlantic cod and haddock
0-group cod and haddock indices have fluctuated throughout the study period. In 2026, the number of 0-group cod and haddock were low (Figure 6). Cod abundance (1 year and older) fluctuated between 1994 and 2010. In 2011 it increased and was in general at higher levels compared with before 2011. Cod abundance was low in 2026. Haddock abundance index increased steadily in 1995-2005 and has since then fluctuated at higher levels (Figure 6). In 2020-2021, haddock abundance was the highest observed in the study period but decreased in 2022-2025, but still high when viewed in the long term perspective. In 2026, haddock abundance index was among the highest indices observed.
Distribution of haddock has increased following higher haddock biomass in Ísafjarðardjúp (Figure 7). In 1988-2000 haddock was mainly found at the outer part of the fjord, but since 2003 the distributional area has increased, and it has been found in the whole fjord.
Temperature
Mean surface and bottom temperature increased from 1988 to 2003 (Figure 8). The temperature remained relatively high until after 2010 when it decreased again. Since 2015, the mean surface and bottom temperature have mainly remained between 7 and 8.5°C except in 2022 and 2026 when it was higher.
Management
The Ministry of Industries is responsible for management of the Icelandic fisheries and implementation of legislation. The fishing season was from early winter (following the annual Icelandic shrimp survey in September/October) until 30 April but in 2017 it was changed to 31 August. TAC and landed catch has followed the advice given by MFRI (Figure 9).
References
Jónsdóttir, I.G. 2025. Handbók um stofnmælingu rækju árið 2025. Kver Hafrannsóknastofnunar, KV2025-03.