Hjalteyri

Hjalteyri is a small settlement located north of Akureyri on the Galmaströnd coast along Eyjafjörður in North Iceland. The village has a long history as a fishing community and has played an important role in the region’s economic development.

Today, Hjalteyri is home to the aquaculture company Fiskeldi Eyjafjarðar, which specializes in halibut farming. In 2003, the population of the village was estimated at around 60–70 residents.

Norwegian fishermen began salting herring at Hjalteyri around 1880, followed by Swedish, German, and Scottish operators. This led to the growth of a thriving fishing station with numerous cod and herring vessels.

When the First World War broke out in 1914, foreign operators left the area. Shortly thereafter, the entrepreneur Thor Jensen leased Hjalteyri and established a herring processing industry. In 1937, a large herring factory was built in the village, which some sources describe as the largest of its kind in Europe at the time.

Activity gradually declined during the 20th century, and following the collapse of the herring stocks in the 1960s, the herring factory was closed in 1966. This marked a major turning point in the history of Hjalteyri.