Recreational fishing permit

There are two types of recreational fishing permits:

• with catch quota.

• without catch quota.

The permits are intended for tourism service providers who plan to use boats for recreational fishing as part of their operations.

Conditions

Boat owners and operators must meet the conditions for fishing within Iceland's fishing jurisdiction according to:

• the Act on Foreign Investment in Business Operations.

• the Act on Fishing and Processing by Foreign Vessels in Iceland's Fishing Jurisdiction.

Applying for a recreational fishing permit

A permit must be applied for each boat that will be used for recreational fishing, and a permit from the Icelandic Tourist Board must be included with the application.

The boat must:

• have a valid certificate of seaworthiness

• be registered in the Icelandic Transport Authority's ship register.

Recreational fishing permit with catch quota

• 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 catch quota

• 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.