The Directorate of Fisheries plays an important societal role, as the agency is entrusted with the administration and monitoring of the utilisation of Iceland's marine resources. The Directorate of Fisheries thus promotes the sustainable utilisation of marine resources through sound administration and service. The tasks are diverse and ever-changing, which calls for professionalism, trust and, not least, the continuous development of technological solutions to increase efficiency, improve services and provide a better overview of data and information.

The year was characterised by the continued development of our operations and an increased emphasis on using data and technology to strengthen all aspects of the agency. The fishing industry is one of the nation's most important economic sectors, and it is therefore crucial that administration and monitoring evolve in line with changes in the industry, technological advances and increasing societal demands for transparency and responsible resource utilisation.

However, the success of the Directorate of Fisheries is always based first and foremost on the knowledge, experience and ambition of its staff. The tasks are often complex and require both specialisation and good cooperation, both within and outside the agency. I would therefore like to extend a special thank you to the staff of the Directorate of Fisheries for their professionalism, flexibility and diligence during the year.

Looking back over the year, there is much we can be proud of. A new catch registration system was launched, the first parts of a new monitoring system are now operational, and the implementation of a catch certification system to meet the requirements of the European Union is in its final stages and will be operational at the beginning of next year. The Directorate of Fisheries has also worked diligently to improve services with digital solutions and automation, as well as improving and increasing access to real-time information. Increased automated monitoring and the use of image analysis solutions, along with the use of AI for monitoring, are under constant development and testing in close cooperation with various companies in the fishing industry. A special initiative was launched for coastal fishing, particularly concerning ownership and registration.

Despite strong development work, we know that development never ends. The Directorate of Fisheries must always consider continued development and new projects in line with technological advances and changes in society. Reliable administration, robust monitoring and good service require that we are constantly ready to learn, develop and do better.

Major changes lie ahead in the operations and working environment of the Directorate of Fisheries. Such changes inevitably involve challenges and uncertainty but at the same time create opportunities to review procedures, strengthen cooperation and build an even stronger administration for the future. It is important to preserve the expertise and experience that has been built up at the Directorate of Fisheries and use it as basis for continued development.

In this way, we contribute to ensuring that Icelandic marine resources continue to be utilised in a sustainable and responsible manner – for the benefit of society as a whole and for future generations.

Elín Björg Ragnarsdóttir
Director general