Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus
Publication of Advice: 19 March 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises that in order to minimize the impact on the stock, catches should be zero tonnes in fishing year 2026. However, because the Nephrops trawl survey and UWTV index measurements show conflicting information about the status of the stock, it is advised that a sentinel Nephrops trawl fishery is carried out to gather commercial CPUE and biological data.
It is advised the sentinel fishery occurs only in Breiðamerkurdjúp, Hornafjarðardjúp, and Skeiðarárdjúp, and is limited to no more than 40 days of fishing in total across all participants, though no more than 8 total fishing days in Skeiðarárdjúp, and each participant must fish in all three areas. Furthermore, it is advised that every haul is sampled for biological data in the sentinel fishery and that effort limits are divided among fishery participants prior to the onset of fishing. Additionally, MFRI advises that regulation 186/2020, which prohibits bottom trawling in areas of Breiðamerkurdjúp, Hornafjarðardjúp and Lónsdjúp for the protection of Norway lobster, remain in effect.
Stock development
MFRI cannot assess the stock and exploitation status relative to the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and precautionary approach (PA) reference points because the reference points are undefined.
Norway lobster. Catches, harvest rate (sum of landings in numbers, divided by total abundance index) and stock abundance (UWTV, millions; SSB proxy, 95% confidence intervals).
Basis of the assessment and reference points
Basis of the advice | Sentinel fishery |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Trends in abundance indicators from underwater TV survey |
Input data | Commercial catches, survey indices from underwater TV survey |
In light of uncertainty in recruitment and prospects, the basis for the advice will remain the same and it is recommended that there should be zero catches in the year 2026.
Prospects
The abundance index (number of burrows) almost doubled between 2025 and the last underwater TV (UWTV) survey in 2023, a similar trend as was observed between 2021 and 2023.
Norway lobster. Advice calculation.
Catch advice for 2025 | Catch advice for 2026 | Advice change |
|---|---|---|
0 | 0 |
Quality of the assessment
The abundance estimate is derived from the UWTV survey that has been conducted annually from 2016–2021 and biennially since 2023. The survey is considered to cover all Norway lobster fishing areas. The harvest rate that generates \(F_{MSY}\) has not been estimated for this stock.
Other information
The Norway lobster fishery was closed from 2022-2026, due to the poor state of the stock. In addition, regulation 186/2020 has been in effect that prohibits bottom trawling in areas in Breiðamerkurdjúp, Hornafjarðardjúp and Lónsdjúp for the protection of Norway lobster. Burrow counts from the 2025 UWTV survey indicate high abundance of Nephrops in several areas in the southeast; however, CPUE and length distributions from the surveys do not fully support this view. A sentinel fishery based on fishing day limits is advised to determine whether commercial CPUE trends can corroborate the steep increase in Nephrops burrow abundance indicated by the UWTV survey index and augment biological samples obtained by the Nephrops surveys. A fishing day is defined as any 24-hour period, initiated with a Nephrops fishing event and includes active fishing, at-sea processing, and travel time. Skeiðarárdjúp is limited to 8 days due to variation in burrow density. Biological data should be collected by sampling at least 50 Nephrops from each haul. Data to be collected include carapace length, sex, and total sample weight. Sentinel fishery participants will be provided with training on biological sampling by the MFRI staff. The sentinel fishery is expected to yield 7–34 tonnes of Nephrops catch in total. In the event that the catch substantially exceeds the expected yield, then the design of the sentinel fishery will be re-evaluated mid-season.
Advice, TAC, and catch
Norway lobster. Fishing year, recommended TAC, national TAC, and catches (tonnes).
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
1984 | 2 400 | 2 600 | 2 500 |
1985 | 2 300 | 2 400 | 2 400 |
1986 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 600 |
1987 | 2 700 | 2 800 | 2 700 |
1988 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 200 |
1989 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 1 900 |
1990 | 2 100 | 2 000 | 1 700 |
1991 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 200 |
1991/92 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 200 |
1992/93 | 2 200 | 2 400 | 2 401 |
1993/94 | 2 200 | 2 400 | 2 261 |
1994/95 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 1 043 |
1995/96 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 632 |
1996/97 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 226 |
1997/98 | 1 500 | 1 200 | 1 400 |
1998/99 | 1 200 | 1 200 | 1 312 |
1999/00 | 1 200 | 1 200 | 1 256 |
2000/01 | 1 400 | 1 400 | 1 403 |
2001/02 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 577 |
2002/03 | 1 600 | 1 600 | 1 688 |
2003/04 | 1 600 | 1 600 | 1 466 |
2004/05 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 908 |
2005/06 | 1 600 | 1 800 | 1 946 |
2006/07 | 1 700 | 1 800 | 1 946 |
2007/08 | 1 900 | 1 900 | 2 000 |
2008/09 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 1 999 |
2009/10 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 2 456 |
2010/11 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 259 |
2011/12 | 2 000 | 2 100 | 2 130 |
2012/13 | 1 900 | 1 900 | 1 965 |
2013/14 | 1 750 | 1 750 | 1 983 |
2014/15 | 1 650 | 1 650 | 1 425 |
2015/16 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 536 |
2016/17 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 186 |
2017/18* | 1 150 | 1 150 | 820 |
2019 | 235 | 0# | 259 |
2020 | 214 | 214 | 194 |
2021 | 143 | 143 | 107 |
2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2026 | 0 | ||
*Includes autumn catches in 2018. | |||
#No TAC was issued in 2019 but harvesters were allowed to fish quota transfers from previous years. | |||
References and further reading
MFRI Assessment Reports 2026. Norway lobster. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 19 March 2026.
Reglugerð um tímabundið bann við veiðum með fiskibotnvörpu á veiðisvæðum humars (Reglugerð nr. 186/2020). https://island.is/reglugerdir/nr/0186-2020.