Change in procedure for issuing coastal fishing permits

Applications are made with an electronic ID and the coastal fishing permit is made available in the applicant's digital mailbox on Ísland.is. In the case of legal entities, it is the authorised signatories who can apply for coastal fishing permits with electronic IDs. Applications will open when the regulation on coastal fishing has been issued.

The Directorate of Fisheries is only authorized to grant one coastal fishing permit to fishing company or the owner of a fishing vessel. Before the Directorate of Fisheries grants a coastal fishing permit, it must therefore be made sure that no owner or operator of the legal entity has membership of more than one coastal fishing permit.

Directorate of Fisheries relies on public information about owners and operators of vessels at the Directorate of Fisheries, Icelandic Transport Authority and the registration of real owners of legal entities at the companies register of the Iceland Revenue and Customs. Those who intend to apply for a coastal fishing permit are encouraged to ensure that the official records of the ownership and operating membership of a vessel are correct.

The processing of a coastal fishing permit may be delayed if public information does not show the ownership of the parties who own or operate vessels, as the Directorate of Fisheries will have to take those cases into special consideration with the associated data collection.

It will be possible to apply in other ways than through the functional application portal island.is, but the processing of such applications can take up to four days.