Annual catch, earnings fall for one country's fleet

Iceland’s fishing fleet landed 1.1 million metric tons (MT) of seafood in 2014, a decrease of 286,000 MT on the previous year, according to new figures published by Statistics Iceland. These landings achieved a total value of ISK 136 billion (EUR 922.6 million; USD 1 billion), down 11 percent on 2013.

The fleet’s demersal catch contributed the most value at ISK 92 billion (EUR 624.1 million; USD 693.1 million), based on a total volume of 423,303 MT. This was down from 453,936 MT and ISK 93.1 billion (EUR 631.5 million; USD 701.4 million) in 2013. Cod alone generated ISK 53 billion (EUR 359.6 million; USD 399.3 million) last year, up from ISK 43.3 billion (EUR 293.7 million; USD 326.2 million), thanks to an additional 1,700 MT of landings.

Its pelagic catch was the largest in volume terms at 623,247 MT, down from 869,343 MT in 2013, despite increased landings of mackerel and herring. The total value achieved by Iceland’s pelagic landings was ISK 33.5 billion (EUR 227.3 million; USD 252.4 million), down from ISK 45.3 billion (EUR 307.4 million; USD 341.3 million).

There were also reductions in the fleet’s flatfish and shellfish catches last year. Vessels landed 19,237 MT of flatfish valued at ISK 7.1 billion (EUR 48.2 million; USD 53.5 million) and 11,086 MT of shellfish valued at ISK 3.7 billion (EUR 25.1 million; USD 27.9 million).

The country also earned an additional ISK 5 billion (EUR 33.9 million; USD 37.7 million) from fishery by-products.

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