Act on Fishing and Processing by Foreign Vessels in Iceland’s Exclusive Fishing Zone.

This Act prohibits, in principle, the fishing and processing of fish by foreign vessels in the exclusive fishing zone of Iceland. This, however, shall not restrict rights which have been or may eventually be granted to other states pursuant to international agreements. Processing of marine products shall include freezing, salting, drying and any other treatment intended to protect fish and other marine products against spoilage, including rendering and fish meal production. Foreign fishing and processing vessels may, at certain conditions, land their own catch, tranship catch and sell catch in Icelandic ports. They must notify the Icelandic Coast Guard on entering and leaving Iceland’s exclusive fishing zone and shall report at regular intervals during their stay in the zone. Local law shall apply to fishing by foreign vessels in the zone, unless otherwise prescribed by international agreement. The Directorate of Fisheries shall issue and may cancel a temporary foreign vessel’s permit. The Act shall be enforced by the Icelandic Coast Guard, the Directorate of Fisheries and its inspectors.
Foreign vessels fishing or processing catch from commercial fish stocks of a common interest which are caught both within and outside of the Icelandic exclusive fishing zone and from states with which Icelandic authorities have not negotiated an agreement, may not enter port in Iceland. The same shall apply to foreign vessels fishing or processing catch which violate agreements on the utilisation and preservation of living marine resources to which Iceland is a party, including vessels registered with regional fisheries management organisations, and which do not sail under the flag of any of their member states, for violations against rules adopted on the basis of such agreements.