Supply - Total allowable catch

The total allowable catch (TAC) is set for every fishing year (Sept-Aug) by the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, based on the recommendation from the Marine Research Institute (MRI). The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) also provides advice on many stocks.

Each vessel is allocated a certain share of the total allowable catch (TAC) of the relevant species. The catch limit of each vessel during the fishing year is thus determined on basis of the TAC of the relevant species and the vessel’s share in the total catch.

The TACs (in tons) for the main species for the fishing year 2022-2023:

Species name TAC, metric tons Latin name
Cod 208,846 Gadus morhua
Saithe 71,300 Pollachius virens
Haddock 62,219 Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Golden redfish 25,545 Sebastes marinus
Greenland halibut 26,710 Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
Deepsea redfish 6,336 Sebastes mentella
Atlantic wolffish 8,107 Anarhichas lupus
Ling 6,098 Molva molva
Tusk 4,464 Brosme brosme
Plaice 7,663 Pleuronectes platessa
Herring 66,195 Clupea harengus
Lemon sole 1,137 Microstomus kitt
Witch 1,230 Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
Dab 301 Limanda limanda


For information in English about the status of fish stocks, please visit the Marine Research Institutes web.  

For further details on TAC, please visit the website of the Directorate of Fisheries.