Recreational fishing permit

There are two types of Recreational fishing licenses, with harvest rights and without harvest rights.

Licensed recreational fishing are intended for tourism operators, and a permit from the Icelandic Tourist Board must accompany the application.

Recreational fishing permit with harvest rights

• This licence is granted for one fishing year.

• This catch may be sold according to the regulation on licensed recreational fishing. 

• All catch must be weighed and registered.

• It is not mandatory to keep a catch logbook.

• Fishing is allowed with rods and hand reel line without automatic jigger.

• If requirements are met it is possible for a fee to apply for special allocation in cod-equivalent for recreational fishing vessels. The price is 80% of the average price of the catch quota from the previous working day. The maximum per vessel is 10 tons.

The permit costs 22.000 ISK

Recreational fishing permit without harvest rights

• This licence is granted for one fishing year.

• The catch caught based on these rules may not be sold or exploited in any way. 

• Special report of catch is required to the Directorate of Fisheries.

• Fishing is allowed with rods and hand reel line without automatic jigger.

• A vessel that holds less than 20 passengers may have 7 rods or hand reel lines and may catch a maximum of 49 fish per day. 

• A vessel that holds 20-49 passengers can have up to 15 rods or hand reel lines and may catch a maximum of 60 fish per day. 

• A vessel that holds more than 50 passengers can have 25 fishing rods or hand reel lines and may catch a maximum of 75 fish per day. 

The permit costs 22.000 ISK

Fishing for own consumption

• Everyone is permitted to fish for own consumption at sea with rods and hand reel line without automatic jigger.

• This fishing is not subject to a permit.

• Landowners' rights must be kept in mind when fishing.

• The catch caught based on these rules may not be sold or exploited in any way.