Ölfus municipality opposes Heidelberg’s seabed extraction project near Landeyjahöfn

The municipality of Ölfus continues to oppose the German company Heidelberg’s large-scale seabed extraction project off the coast near Landeyjahöfn, despite Heidelberg reducing its planned extraction from 80 million cubic meters to 60 million following earlier criticism. The Marine Research Institute of Iceland (Hafrannsóknarstofnun), in a recent report released on September 26, maintains its strong opposition to the project, labeling it as “large-scale” and unprecedented in Iceland.

Hafrannsóknarstofnun emphasizes the need to protect the area, indicating that even the reduced extraction volume does not significantly alter the environmental concerns. The Institute warns that negative impacts on fish populations and other marine wildlife would persist if the extraction proceeds during critical periods such as spawning. Although the changes might result in somewhat less erosion along the coast, the project remains unsustainable according to Hafrannsóknarstofnun’s assessment.

The controversy surrounding Heidelberg’s operations has gained traction over recent months, as the material extracted is intended for direct export or to be processed at the company’s planned facility in Ölfus. The proposed extraction has faced harsh scrutiny from local authorities, including the mayor of Vestmannaeyjar, Íris Róbertsdóttir, who has voiced strong opposition.

Hafrannsóknarstofnun’s latest evaluation reaffirms its previous conclusions, highlighting that the seabed material removal could severely disrupt vital habitats and breeding grounds for key fish species, such as cod and pelagic fish like capelin and herring. As the extraction could remove not just sand but also the eggs and juvenile fish residing in the seabed, the Institute continues to firmly stand against the operation.