GROUNDFISH SPECIES

Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)

This bedrock fish is the most important component of the Icelandic diet and economy. It is a large fish that grows fast and, in adulthood, typically measures 45 to 85cm long, and weighs anywhere from 2-9kg.

Main catching seasons:

  • H/G → IQF | Block frozen
  • Fillets | Loins | Portions | Tails | Bellies → IQF | Interleaved
  • Blocks → Full fillet | Loinless | B/P | Belly | Mince
  • Roes →A grade | Industrial → IQF | Interleaved | Blocks
  • Light salted | Fillets | Loins | Middles | Tails | Bellies | Mince
  • Wetsalted | Splitted | Fillets | Migas | Faces | K-wings
  • Frozen at sea | Frozen at land

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Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Haddock is a large codfish closely related to the saithe. Haddock grows very fast the first two years, and then maintains an average size of about 50 to 65cm long. They are most commonly caught between the ages of 3 to 5 years old and at a weight of 1,5-2,5kg but larger fish are also caught.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • H/G →
  • Fillets : Loins : Portions : Tails → IQF : Interleaved
  • Blocks → Full fillet : Loinless : B/P : Belly : Mince
  • Roes : Industrial → IQF : Interleaved

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Saithe (Pollachius virens)

Saithe is a slightly larger codfish than the haddock, usually between 70 and 110cm long and weighing between 2-7kg. They are commonly caught between the ages of 4 to 9 years old and, with a streamlined shape, are fantastic and fast swimmers. Saithe are mainly caught off of the south and southwest coasts of Iceland.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • H/G → Block frozen
  • Fillets | Loins | Portions | Tails → IQF | Interleaved
  • Roes Industrial → Blocks
  • Blocks → Full fillet | Loinless | B/P | Bellies | Mince
  • Light salted | Fillets → IQF
  • Wet salted | Splitted
  • Frozen at sea | Frozen at land

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Golden Redfish (Sebastes marinus)

The golden redfish is one of the most common redfish found in Icelandic waters and one of the most commercially important as well. They reach maturity between 12 to 15 years old and can live up to 100 years. The golden redfish is orange in color, typically measures 35 to 40cm long.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • W/R → 300-500g | 500-700g | 700-1000g | 1000-1200g → FAS → Block frozen
  • H/G → 100-200g | 200-300g | 300-500g | 500-700g | 700g+ | 1000g+ → FAS → Block frozen
  • Fillets → IQF | Interleaved
  • Block → Mince
  • Frozen at sea | Frozen at land

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Deep-sea Redfish (Sebastes mentella)

The deep-sea redfish is quite similar to the golden redfish, though it lives at much greater depths. Deep-sea redfish are caught during the summer months at around 500m beneath the ocean’s surface, and are an average of 37 to 42cm long. Most of the deep-sea redfish caught around Iceland come from the open ocean over the Reykjanes Ridge, southwest of the country.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • W/R → 300-500g | 500-700g | 700-1000g | 1000-1200g → FAS → Block frozen
  • H/G → 100-200g | 200-300g | 300-500g | 500-700g | 700g+ | 1000g+ → FAS → Block froze
  • Frozen at sea

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Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus)

Lumpfish are thick and somewhat ball-shaped. Females reach about 40cm long and males are usually a bit smaller than that. They are found all around the waters of Iceland but in highest concentrations in the colder waters in the north and east of the country. Lumpfish spend most of their time in the open ocean, however, and usually only come to shallower waters to spawn. Their spawning behavior is quite distinct – males arrive at breeding grounds early to make a nest in kelp beds and to wait for a female. Spawning takes place, the females leave and the males will attend to, and aggressively defend, the eggs until they hatch.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • HOG: Ocean run → Avg.size: 1200-2700g → IQF | Block frozen
  • Frozen at land

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ATLANTIC CATFISH (ANARCHICHAS LUPUS)

 

Atlantic catfish are found all around Iceland, typically around the West Fjords, at 40 to 200m deep. They have very strong teeth and jaws in order to crush and eat shellfish and echinoderms like starfish and sea urchins. Atlantic catfish are a large and long fish, typically between 50 and 60cm long, though the largest one caught in Icelandic waters was almost twice that size at 125cm long.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • H/G → IQF | Block frozen
  • Fillets | Loins | Portions | Tails → IQF | Interleaved
  • Blocks → B/P | Mince
  • Frozen at sea | Frozen at land

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Ling (Molva molva)

Ling is a long codfish found in waters from Northern Norway to the Mediterranean Sea. The largest ling on record was 212cm long. Ling are found all around Iceland but primarily in the colder waters to the northeast of the country, anywhere from 15 to 1000m deep. The ling has a large mouth with sharp teeth and is a predatory fish that eats herring, flatfish and other codfish.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • H/G → Block frozen
  • Fillets | Portions → IQF | Interleaved
  • Blocks → Mince
  • Light salted | Fillets → IQF
  • Wet salted | Splitted | Fillets
  • Frozen at sea | Frozen at land

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Blue Ling (Molva dypterygia)

Blue ling is a long and slender codfish slightly smaller than common ling. Blue ling are typically around 70 to 110cm long and the largest one caught in Icelandic waters measured 153cm long. Blue ling can be found all around Iceland at 300 to 800m deep, and can reach up to twenty years of age.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • H/G → Block frozen
  • Fillets | Portions → IQF | Interleaved
  • Roes → IQF | Interleaved
  • Blocks → Mince
  • Frozen at sea | Frozen at land

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Tusk (Brosme brosme)

 

The tusk is a codfish measuring 40 to 90cm long, though the largest tusk caught in Icelandic waters was 120cm long. Tusk are found all around Iceland, at depths between 20 to 1000m. Older tusk tend to live in the deeper waters. Tusk feed on a variety of crustaceans and fishes, such as lobster, crabs and redfish.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • Fillets | Portions | Tails → IQF | Interleaved
  • Light salted | Fillets → IQF
  • Frozen at sea | Frozen at land

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Silver Smelt (Argentina silus)

 

Silver smelt is also known as the Atlantic argentine, great silver smelt, herring smelt or just smelt. The Silver smelt is found at 140 to 1440m depth. Silver smelt is a beautiful silvery fish that has large scales. They have big eyes covering big part of their head. The size of the silver smelt is around 40 to 50cm but can get as big as 70cm. The main fishing grounds is the south and west of Iceland.

Main catching seasons:

Specification:

  • W/R → 270g+ → Block frozen
  • H/G → 200g+ → Block frozen
  • Frozen at sea

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