Iceland ambassador visits Grimsby seafood

Grimsby’s seafood leaders have welcomed Iceland’s new ambassador to the UK during her first visit to the Humber, with trade and fisheries high on the agenda.

Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir, who took up her diplomatic post on 1 August, toured Grimsby Fish Market and met representatives from across the region’s seafood industry. Iceland supplies more than 90% of the fish sold through the market, with cod and haddock forming a significant part of the UK supply.

“We were delighted to welcome the new Icelandic ambassador to the United Kingdom,” said Andrew Oliver, chair of market operator GFDG. “Our relations with Iceland are vital, so much of our fish comes from Iceland and we’re determined to maintain our excellent links with officials and businesses there.”

The ambassador, a lawyer who previously served as Iceland’s Foreign Minister from 2021 to 2025, visited Mariner Foods Trading and Alfred Enderby, where she was briefed on the wider Humber seafood cluster and the traditionally smoked Icelandic haddock associated with Grimsby’s protected geographical status.

She said the Humber visit had been ‘high on my checklist’, adding: “I want to both build on what we already have, and what works, and make sure that I am here to serve the industries of Iceland and their relations in the UK.”

Fisheries were central to discussions, with the ambassador saying they were ‘highest on the list in terms of historical relations and interests, for both sides’.

She was also told the seafood sector supports around 5,500 direct jobs and 10,000 roles across the supply chain in the area.

“It has been a very informative visit,” she said. “Thank you for a warm welcome. It is my first visit, but absolutely not my last one.”

The visit follows Iceland’s August referendum, when voters rejected restarting EU membership negotiations by 52.8% to 47.2%. Fisheries and control of fishing waters were prominent issues in the debate.