The total catch of Icelandic vessels in February was 85,678 tonnes which is 4% less than the total catch in February 2016. Demersal catch was 58% less than in the previous year, 14.5 thousand tonnes and is still affected by the fishermen's strike.
Pelagic catch increased by 65%, 65 thousand tonnes compared to 40 thousand tonnes in February 2016, all of which was capelin.
In the 12 month period from March 2016 to February 2017 the total catch has decreased by 165 thousand tonnes, or 14% compared with the same period a year earlier.
| Fish catch | ||||||
| February | March-February | |||||
| 2016 | 2017 | % | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | % | |
| Fish catch at constant prices | ||||||
| Index | 91.1 | 53.6 | -41.2 | |||
| Fish catch in tonnes | ||||||
| Total catch | 88,979 | 85,678 | -4 | 1,165,197 | 1,000,131 | -14 |
| Demersal catch | 47,393 | 19,823 | -58 | 448,846 | 401,645 | -11 |
| Cod | 29,645 | 14,504 | -51 | 254,516 | 231,902 | -9 |
| Haddock | 4,658 | 2,148 | -54 | 41,449 | 33,391 | -19 |
| Saithe | 4,410 | 1,244 | -72 | 47,966 | 43,667 | -9 |
| Redfish | 5,545 | 988 | -82 | 59,774 | 55,977 | -6 |
| Other demersal catch | 3,135 | 939 | -70 | 45,141 | 36,709 | -19 |
| Flatfish | 1,378 | 355 | -74 | 24,622 | 21,448 | -13 |
| Pelagic catch | 39,609 | 65,290 | 65 | 680,755 | 565,320 | -17 |
| Herring | 852 | - | - | 112,353 | 110,726 | -1 |
| Capelin | 20,757 | 65,290 | 215 | 150,683 | 144,125 | -4 |
| Blue whiting | 18,000 | - | - | 249,408 | 139,950 | -44 |
| Mackerel | - | - | - | 168,279 | 170,514 | 1 |
| Other pelagic catch | - | - | - | 32 | 5 | -83 |
| Shellfish | 598 | 210 | -65 | 10,919 | 11,631 | 7 |
| Other species | - | - | - | 54 | 86 | 58 |
Information about catch of fish which are published in this press release are preliminary figures. The data is gathered by the Directorate of Fisheries.