Norfish Iceland Cod Landings 1520–1871

The Icelandic Fisheries were highly productive and drew attention from both domestic and various foreign markets. While the gear deployed and the methods used for fishing did not vary significantly during the early modern period, there were several influences on the industry that impacted either negatively or positively. For instance, human intervention in the standard fishing practices, such as acts of war, market pressures, etc. led to variability in the total catches that were made on an annual basis. Natural influences were an issue as well; fish migration and stock levels, weather/climate conditions, etc. played their part in the types of inconsistencies that pervaded the era.