Weighing and registration of catches

All catch landed in Iceland must be weighed at the landing port upon landing. After the completion of the weighing, the relevant port authority registers the weighing results in the Directorate of Fisheries' database, GAFL.

When weighing on port scales:

• a certified scale belonging to the port in question must be used.

• a certified weigher must carry out the weighing.

Ice deduction during port weighing

• If the catch is without ice, the port weigher must complete the weighing without any ice deduction.

• If there is ice in the catch, the port weigher is permitted to:

  • deduct up to 3% from the weighed catch as an ice deduction.

  • send the catch for re-weighing if the estimated ice percentage is higher than 3%.

Reweighing

Re-weighing involves iced catch, which has previously been weighed on port scales, is weighed without ice at a licence holder's premises. The catch is then either:

• weighed in its entirety

• weighed by taking a sample weight

The results of the re-weighing at the licence holder's premises are sent to the port of landing, which registers the information in GAFL.

Conditions for a re-weighing licence

The following conditions must be met:

• A certified scale must be used.

• A certified weigher must carry out the weighing.

• The premises where the weighing takes place must be approved by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority.

• The facilities must meet requirements for:

  • sufficient space for weighing

  • appropriate weighing equipment

  • facilities to separate ice from the catch

Self weighing

The Directorate of Fisheries may grant a permit for self-weighing of catch. Self-weighing entails an exemption from weighing on port scale if there are significant difficulties in weighing the catch on port scale.

Conditions for a self-weighing permit

Self-weighing permits are subject to stricter conditions than re-weighing permits. Self-weighing permits are only granted after a positive review from the port authorities in the relevant port, who are responsible for supervising self-weighing permit holders.

For self-weighing, there is an obligation to:

• use an automatic scale that weighs the entire catch continuously.

• send the weighing results to the relevant port of landing, which will register the information in GAFL.

• meet strict requirements for internal control.

Weighing permits for independent parties

The Directorate of Fisheries is authorised to grant parties a permit to weigh catch on behalf of and under the responsibility of port authorities.

Conditions for granting a permit

The permit holder may not:

• have a direct ownership interest in a fishing company or fish processing plant.

• manage or act as an intermediary in sale of catch.

• have any interests that could call their impartiality into question.