The total catch of Icelandic vessels in 2024 was 995 thousand tonnes, which is a 28% decrease compared with 2023. This decline is mainly due to the fact that no capelin was caught. The total catch value based on preliminary figures, was approximately 171 billion ISK, representing a 14% reduction from the previous year.
A total of 423 thousand tonnes of demersal fish were caught, marking a 5% increase from 2023. The value of the demersal fish catch also increased by 1%, rising from 126 billion ISK to nearly 128 billion ISK. Of demersal species, cod accounted for approximately 224 thousand tons, with a first-sale value of around 82 billion ISK.
The pelagic fish catch in 2024 was about 547 thousand tonnes, reflecting a 42% decrease compared with 2023. Among pelagic species blue whiting was the most caught, with approximately 324 thousand tons, followed by herring, at over 133 thousand tons. The total value of the pelagic fish catch dropped by 50% year-over-year.