Eel fishing

All eel fishing is prohibited in sea, rivers and lakes in Iceland unless a permit has been obtained from the Directorate of Fisheries for eel fishing for personal consumption.

Applying for a permit

The application period for a permit from the Directorate of Fisheries for eel fishing for personal consumption is annually from the 1st of March to the 1st of April. Alll applications are sent to the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute for review before a decision is made on granting a permit.

Permit conditions

Permits are subject to the condition that:

• all catch is recorded.

• annual reports on fishing effort and catch are sent to the Directorate of Fisheries.

Please note

If an eel is caught during salmon or trout fishing, it must be released. All sale of Icelandic eel and eel products is prohibited.