Fisheries Crew: Share System, Contracts, Safety, Immigration in Iceland
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Icelandic Acts of the Althingi, statutory instruments, and official guidance. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Crew on Icelandic fishing vessels work under a unique mix of labour, maritime, and fisheries law. Pay is share-based rather than wage-based, safety and certification are tightly regulated under the 2022 manning act, and disputes move through a specialised adjudication chain (Verðlagsstofa skiptaverðs, úrskurðarnefnd sjómanna og útvegsmanna, Félagsdómur):
- Crew contract (skiprúmssamningur): Sjómannalög nr. 35/1985 governs engagement, the crew logbook, termination (§ 9), working and rest time (§§ 64-65), and sickness/injury pay (§ 36, forfallakaup).
- Share system (hlutaskiptakerfi): crew are paid a percentage of skiptaverðmæti — the catch value after permitted deductions defined in Lög nr. 24/1986. Specific share percentages come from the kjarasamningur (collective agreement) between SFS and the seamen's unions — they are contractual, not statutory.
- Minimum guarantee (tryggingalaun / kauptrygging): statutory in origin (§ 36 Sjómannalög), with the amount set in each kjarasamningur.
- Manning and certification: Lög nr. 82/2022 is the current act (in force 1 January 2023), replacing nr. 30/2007. Samgöngustofa runs atvinnuskírteini, lögskráning, STCW-F certificates, and minimum-manning decisions.
- Catch weighing (Reglugerð nr. 745/2016): all landed catch weighed at the port on a certified löggilt hafnarvog. Ice deduction capped at 3%; larger deductions need Fiskistofa-licensed endurvigtun.
- Unions and disputes: principal unions are SSÍ (deckhands), VM (engineers), and Félag skipstjórnarmanna (officers). Disputes over interpretation of a kjarasamningur go exclusively to Félagsdómur (Labour Court) under Lög nr. 80/1938. Individual wage or share claims go to Héraðsdómur.
- Accident reporting: mandatory without undue delay to Rannsóknarnefnd samgönguslysa (RNSA) under Lög nr. 18/2013 § 16. 24-hour line: 660 0336.
- Immigration for non-EEA crew: employer applies for both atvinnuleyfi (Vinnumálastofnun, Lög nr. 97/2002) and dvalarleyfi (Útlendingastofnun, Lög nr. 80/2016); foreign officer certificates need a Samgöngustofa STCW-F endorsement.
When does it apply?
- You are a skipper, mate, engineer, deckhand, or cook on an Icelandic-flagged fishing vessel.
- You have a dispute over share deductions, catch value, tryggingalaun, sickness pay, or termination.
- You or your crew have been injured on board, or an accident must be reported to RNSA.
- You are a non-EEA worker joining an Icelandic fishing fleet and need both a work and residence permit.
- Your union is in a collective dispute with the company and the case has been referred to Félagsdómur.
What to Do If You Work on an Icelandic Fishing Vessel and Face a Share, Safety, or Immigration Issue
- Read your kjarasamningur alongside Sjómannalög §§ 64-65 — it sets your share percentage, tryggingalaun, working and rest time, and how deductions from skiptaverðmæti apply to you.
- Check the catch weighing: confirm the port scale is certified, that ice deduction is 3% or less, and that any endurvigtun has a valid Fiskistofa licence.
- Certifications: keep your atvinnuskírteini and STCW-F up to date via Samgöngustofa. Non-EEA officers need Samgöngustofa áritun on their foreign certificate.
- Injury on board: claim forfallakaup (§ 36 Sjómannalög) and áhafnartrygging (Siglingalög § 172). All accidents must be reported to RNSA — the agency is independent and cannot apportion fault.
- Share dispute: first escalate through the union. Price-of-catch issues go to Verðlagsstofa skiptaverðs and, if unresolved, to the úrskurðarnefnd sjómanna og útvegsmanna (Lög nr. 13/1998). Collective-agreement interpretation goes to Félagsdómur.
- Immigration: have your employer apply to Vinnumálastofnun (atvinnuleyfi) and Útlendingastofnun (dvalarleyfi). Since L. 56/2023, the previous 2-year-abroad rule before re-application for shortage-occupation permits is removed.
- Switching vessels: atvinnuleyfi generally ends with the employment. The new employer must file a fresh application before you start.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't accept improper deductions from skiptaverðmæti — e.g. charging quota rental to the crew share. Review against Lög nr. 24/1986 and the kjarasamningur.
- Don't rely on outdated section numbers. Lög nr. 30/2007 has been repealed by Lög nr. 82/2022 (in force 1 January 2023) — older guides are wrong.
- Don't fail to report an accident to RNSA — skippers, owners, Landhelgisgæsla, police, harbours, customs, and insurers all have reporting duties under Lög nr. 18/2013 § 16.
- Don't exceed working-hour limits in Sjómannalög §§ 64-65 and Lög nr. 82/2022 §§ 20-22 — rest-time breaches can void watch schedules and trigger Samgöngustofa action.
- Don't assume you can switch vessels on your existing permit — atvinnuleyfi is tied to the employer, and a new employer must apply separately.
- Don't bypass the union on a share or contract dispute — Félagsdómur is the exclusive forum for collective-agreement interpretation, and unions have standing there that you do not.
Common Questions
How are Icelandic fishing crew paid?
On a share basis (hlutaskiptakerfi). The skiptaverðmæti is the catch value after permitted deductions defined in Lög nr. 24/1986. The specific share percentages — what each role receives — come from the kjarasamningur (collective agreement) between SFS and the seamen's union, not from statute. A statutory minimum guarantee (tryggingalaun / kauptrygging) is rooted in Sjómannalög § 36 with amounts set contractually.
What is the Icelandic fisheries manning and certification law?
Lög nr. 82/2022 (in force 1 January 2023) — the current statute. It replaced Lög nr. 30/2007, which was repealed. Samgöngustofa administers atvinnuskírteini, lögskráning, STCW-F certificates, and minimum-manning decisions. Working and rest time is governed by Sjómannalög §§ 64-65 and by Lög nr. 82/2022 §§ 20-22, implementing Directive 1999/63/EC.
Where do I take a disagreement about my Icelandic fishing contract?
It depends on the issue. Collective-agreement interpretation goes exclusively to Félagsdómur (Labour Court) under Lög nr. 80/1938. Individual wage or share claims go to Héraðsdómur. Catch-price disputes are first heard by Verðlagsstofa skiptaverðs and then by the úrskurðarnefnd sjómanna og útvegsmanna under Lög nr. 13/1998. Accidents go to RNSA for investigation.
What is the ice-deduction rule for Icelandic catch weighing?
Reglugerð nr. 745/2016 caps the ice deduction at 3% of catch weight at the certified port scale. Larger deductions require endurvigtun under a Fiskistofa licence. This is a key lever in share-pay disputes — an over-stated ice deduction reduces skiptaverðmæti and therefore crew pay.
Can a non-EEA fisher switch Icelandic vessels on the same work permit?
Generally no. The atvinnuleyfi (work permit) under Lög nr. 97/2002 is tied to the employer — it ends with the employment relationship. The new employer must file a fresh application with Vinnumálastofnun before the worker starts. Since L. 56/2023, the previous requirement of 2 years abroad before re-application for shortage-occupation roles has been removed.
When does it apply — fisheries crew: share system, contracts, safety, immigration?
You are a skipper, mate, engineer, deckhand, or cook on an Icelandic-flagged fishing vessel.You have a dispute over share deductions, catch value, tryggingalaun, sickness pay, or termination.You or your crew have been injured on board, or an accident must be reported to RNSA.You are a non-EEA worker joining an Icelandic fishing fleet and need both a work and residence permit.Your union is in a collective dispute with the company and the case has been referred to Félagsdómur.
What should I do if I am a fisheries crew member in Iceland and have a dispute over shares, working hours, or an accident on board?
Read your kjarasamningur alongside Sjómannalög §§ 64-65 — it sets your share percentage, tryggingalaun, working and rest time, and how deductions from skiptaverðmæti apply to you.Check the catch weighing: confirm the port scale is certified, that ice deduction is 3% or less, and that any endurvigtun has a valid Fiskistofa licence.Certifications: keep your atvinnuskírteini and STCW-F up to date via Samgöngustofa. Non-EEA officers need Samgöngustofa áritun on their foreign certificate.Injury on board: claim forfallakaup (§ 36 Sjómannalög) and áhafnartrygging (Siglingalög § 172). All accidents mu...
What should you NOT do — fisheries crew: share system, contracts, safety, immigration?
Don't accept improper deductions from skiptaverðmæti — e.g. charging quota rental to the crew share. Review against Lög nr. 24/1986 and the kjarasamningur.Don't rely on outdated section numbers. Lög nr. 30/2007 has been repealed by Lög nr. 82/2022 (in force 1 January 2023) — older guides are wrong.Don't fail to report an accident to RNSA — skippers, owners, Landhelgisgæsla, police, harbours, customs, and insurers all have reporting duties under Lög nr. 18/2013 § 16.Don't exceed working-hour limits in Sjómannalög §§ 64-65 and Lög nr. 82/2022 §§ 20-22 — rest-time breaches can void watch schedule...