Iceland’s total fish catch rose to nearly 103,000 tonnes in November 2025, up 9% from the same month last year, according to official figures. The increase matters because fishing is a key industry for the country and affects jobs, exports, and income.
The total catch for the month reached 102,779 tonnes, compared with 93,958 tonnes in November 2024. Over the twelve months from December 2024 to November 2025, the total catch was 1.04 million tonnes, which is 6% higher than in the same period a year earlier.
Different trends by fish type
Demersal fish caught near the seabed rose by 10% in November. Cod, the most important species in this group, was almost unchanged, while haddock and saithe increased. Flatfish, such as plaice, fell by 9%.
Pelagic fish, which live in open water, increased by 9%. Herring catches were up 18%, while blue whiting fell by 5%. No mackerel or capelin were caught in November, according to the data.
Catch value is also higher
The value of the catch for the last full fishing year, from September 2024 to August 2025, was 194 billion Icelandic krona. That is 14% higher than the previous year. Most of this value came from demersal fish, while pelagic fish made up a smaller share.
Statistics Iceland published the figures, which are the country’s official statistics.