The Directorate of Fisheries in Iceland

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Directorate of Fisheries Fisheries Marine Research Institute Institute Coast Guard Ministry of Justice Ports of landing landing Fisheries / Fishing industry Fisheries Administration Ministry of Fisheries

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Director of Fisheries Þórður Ásgeirsson Director of Fisheries Þórður Ásgeirsson Department of Surveillance 41 pers Department of Surveillance 41 pers Department of Quota Allocations 5 pers Department of Quota Allocations 5 pers The Directorate of Fisheries Organisation Chart Department of Seafood Safety 12 pers 12 pers Department of Seafood Safety 12 pers 12 pers Deputy Director of Fisheries Árni Múli Jónasson Deputy Director of Fisheries Árni Múli Jónasson Finance and administration 6 pers 6 pers Finance and administration 6 pers 6 pers ComputerDepartment 13 pers ComputerDepartment Department of Information 6 pers Department of Information 6 pers LegalDepartment 7 pers LegalDepartment

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Fisheries Management  The Indvidual Transferable Quota System (ITQ) u For every fishing year (Sep-Aug) the Minister of Fisheries issues a regulation deciding the total allowable catch (TAC) of any species under the ITQ system u The decision is based on a recommendation from the Marine Research Institute u Quota shares and catch quotas must be bound to fishing vessels or boats u 1% quota share is equivalent 1% of the annual catch quota u Quota share and catch quotas are transferable (in full or partly)  The Indvidual Transferable Quota System (ITQ) u For every fishing year (Sep-Aug) the Minister of Fisheries issues a regulation deciding the total allowable catch (TAC) of any species under the ITQ system u The decision is based on a recommendation from the Marine Research Institute u Quota shares and catch quotas must be bound to fishing vessels or boats u 1% quota share is equivalent 1% of the annual catch quota u Quota share and catch quotas are transferable (in full or partly) 20:54

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Other Management Measures  Regulations concerning the type of fishing gear permitted, e.g. minimum and maximum mesh size  Fishing with trawls is prohibited in large areas near to the coast  Grids in fishing gear are obligatory in certain fisheries  Extensive closures of fishing areas to protect spawning fish  Temporary closures of fishing areas to protect juvenile fish u Inspectors measures fish and recommend closures to the MRI u Areas can be closed immediately for two weeks period to protect juvenile fish  Regulations concerning the type of fishing gear permitted, e.g. minimum and maximum mesh size  Fishing with trawls is prohibited in large areas near to the coast  Grids in fishing gear are obligatory in certain fisheries  Extensive closures of fishing areas to protect spawning fish  Temporary closures of fishing areas to protect juvenile fish u Inspectors measures fish and recommend closures to the MRI u Areas can be closed immediately for two weeks period to protect juvenile fish

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Ports of landings There are approx landings registered in the system every year More than 50 ports of landings in Iceland send electronic data daily to the Directorate of Fisheries

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Weighing of catches - Collection of data  All catches from Icelandic fishing vessels are weighed and recorded at the port of landing  The port authorities record the catch data and submit it electronically direct into the Directorate’s database

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Information on quota and catches  According to law information on quotas of individual boats and vessels, transfers of quotas and landed catches is public and accessible to everybody  The Directorate publishes this information on the internet: u  According to law information on quotas of individual boats and vessels, transfers of quotas and landed catches is public and accessible to everybody  The Directorate publishes this information on the internet: u

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Discard  According to section 2 of Act no. 57/1996, concerning the treatment of commercial marine stocks, discard of catches is prohibited  Minor exceptions: u Non-value catches u Heads and other refuse from working or processing  Nets and other fishing gear which are left in the ocean shall be drawn in a normal and regular manner  According to section 2 of Act no. 57/1996, concerning the treatment of commercial marine stocks, discard of catches is prohibited  Minor exceptions: u Non-value catches u Heads and other refuse from working or processing  Nets and other fishing gear which are left in the ocean shall be drawn in a normal and regular manner

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S No special rules on “bycatches”  Vessels are obliged to have catch quota for their catches in all species, which are subject to the ITQ system  If vessels don’t have sufficient catch quota for their “bycatches” it is required that sufficient catch quota is transfered to them from other vessels  Vessels are not allowed to commence a fishing trip unless they have sufficient catch quota for their probable catches  Vessels are obliged to have catch quota for their catches in all species, which are subject to the ITQ system  If vessels don’t have sufficient catch quota for their “bycatches” it is required that sufficient catch quota is transfered to them from other vessels  Vessels are not allowed to commence a fishing trip unless they have sufficient catch quota for their probable catches

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Main reasons for discard  Damaged fish, e.g. u Dead fish in gillnets u Unwanted bycatches (e.g. in lobster- and prawn fisheries)  Low priced catches, e.g. u Undersized fish u Other low price fish  Catches in excess of quotas  Damaged fish, e.g. u Dead fish in gillnets u Unwanted bycatches (e.g. in lobster- and prawn fisheries)  Low priced catches, e.g. u Undersized fish u Other low price fish  Catches in excess of quotas

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Measures to fight discard  Closures of areas and gear u Closures of areas in case of undersized fish – bycatches in pelagic fisheries u Mesh sizes and fishing grids (undersized fish, unwanted bycatches) u In 2007 there have already been 86 closures  Closures of areas and gear u Closures of areas in case of undersized fish – bycatches in pelagic fisheries u Mesh sizes and fishing grids (undersized fish, unwanted bycatches) u In 2007 there have already been 86 closures

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Measures to fight discard  Flexibility in the ITQ system u Undersized fish is only partially withdrawn from catch quotas u Permission to land up to 5% excessive to quotas - monetary value of catch goes into a special development fund, run by the minister u Species conversion (demersal species only) u 5% can be caught in excess of a vessel’s catch quota - deducted from next year’s quota u 20% of each vessels catch quota can be transfered to the following fishing year u Procedure in relations to suspension of fishing permits in case of excessive catches  Flexibility in the ITQ system u Undersized fish is only partially withdrawn from catch quotas u Permission to land up to 5% excessive to quotas - monetary value of catch goes into a special development fund, run by the minister u Species conversion (demersal species only) u 5% can be caught in excess of a vessel’s catch quota - deducted from next year’s quota u 20% of each vessels catch quota can be transfered to the following fishing year u Procedure in relations to suspension of fishing permits in case of excessive catches

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Administrative Sanctions  Suspension of fishing permit of a vessel which has taken catches in excess of its catch quotas  Suspension of fishing permit if the vessel´s operator or crew, or others acting on its behalf have violated the provisions of fisheries management legislation u Min. period of one week; Max. period of one year  Suspensions can be appealed to the Ministry of Fisheries  A levy is imposed for overfishing quotas  Information on vessels and vessel operators which have had their fishing permits suspended or levies imposed on them is published regularly  Suspension of fishing permit of a vessel which has taken catches in excess of its catch quotas  Suspension of fishing permit if the vessel´s operator or crew, or others acting on its behalf have violated the provisions of fisheries management legislation u Min. period of one week; Max. period of one year  Suspensions can be appealed to the Ministry of Fisheries  A levy is imposed for overfishing quotas  Information on vessels and vessel operators which have had their fishing permits suspended or levies imposed on them is published regularly

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Penalty Sanctions  Violations are subject to fines regardless of whether they are committed willfully or through negligence u First offence: Max. fine of ISK 4,000,000 u Repeated offences: Min. fine of ISK 400,000, max. fine of ISK 8,000,000  Major or repeated willful offences: Detention or imprisonment for up to six years  Confiscation of gear used for illegal catches  Violations are subject to fines regardless of whether they are committed willfully or through negligence u First offence: Max. fine of ISK 4,000,000 u Repeated offences: Min. fine of ISK 400,000, max. fine of ISK 8,000,000  Major or repeated willful offences: Detention or imprisonment for up to six years  Confiscation of gear used for illegal catches

D I R E C T O R A T E O F F I S H E R I E S Regular measuring of discard  The project was established in 2001  Cooperation of DF and MRI  The data collection is mainly directed toward fisheries of: u Cod u Haddock u Saithe u Golden redfish  Discarding is also measured for various fishing gear  The project was established in 2001  Cooperation of DF and MRI  The data collection is mainly directed toward fisheries of: u Cod u Haddock u Saithe u Golden redfish  Discarding is also measured for various fishing gear